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THE F. GUTEKUNST CO. PRIN7.

AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES

FROM THE

LIFE AND LETTERS

OF

EZRA MICHENER, M, D,

PHILADELPHIA :

FRIENDS' BOOK ASSOCIATION,

FIFTEENTH AND RACE STS.

1893.

a^oV

/

Copyrighted, 1893.

PREFACE.

Autobiography records the circumstances which
tended to mould the character of the writer, and which
furnished the incentives to action. It traces their in-
fluence upon his life movements, whether for good or
for evil, and draws lessons of instruction for the future
from the experience of the past. The task which it
imposes is alike difficult and dangerous ; it relates to
one's self, it is eminently egotistical, and it belongs to
a period of life when the lengthening shadows of even-
ing have darkened the landscape and obscured the
vision of the writer.

I have often been solicited, even up here among the
nineties, to write out some notes of my previous life ;
but the queries have always arisen, What should I
write ? Would my comparatively obscure life afford
reminiscences worthy of such perpetuation ?

It is well known that I was born in obscurity, a mere
farm-boy, with no other means of social or scholastic
education than that which the farm and day-school of
four- score years ago afforded.

It is equally well known that later, in addition to the
arduous and exacting duties of a country doctor, I had
to carry the providence of a large family and the man-
agement of a farm. Add to these adverse conditions
that I was almost entirely isolated from the seats of
learning, from scientific libraries, and from personal
intercourse with the cultivators of science.

(iii)

IV PREFACE.

It is true that niy impulse was forward, and I may
sometimes have uttered advanced thoughts of some
merit, but they have been too often lost in the distant
past or absorbed by more modern developments.

I have been careful to preserve serial copies of the
printed effusions of my pen, however ephemeral their
import, together with many memoranda and comments
relating to my life histoty. In this collection of over
five hundred items there are many which had a mere
local or temporary application, and require no further
consideration ; some that contained, at the period when
they were written, an advanced thought which may be
worth preserving ; some that will only need a brief
summary of their import ; some that may be better
represented by appropriate extracts, and some that will
prefer to vindicate their claims in their own way. This
task I assigned to my self two years ago, but the loss of
m}^ dear Mary, and the severe bodily injury that I
received a few days after from a fall, have frustrated
that intention. I now feel that the treasure is no longer
mine ; it must soon become the propert}r of others whose
dut}^ it will be to direct its disposal, whether it may
be to make brief selections from the mass for preserva-
tion as an incentive to emulation among the young, or
to consign the whole to merited oblivion.

E. Michener.

Sylvania, 2/j.th of nth month, 1886.

CONTENTS.

1794 to 1808.
Parentage and Birth — First Eecollections — Autobiography —
Death of My Grandfather — Dr. John Ross — Inoculation
for Small- Pox — Anecdote of a Walk — Pious and Prudent
Mother — Danger of Alcoholic Medicines — Whittling —
Home Education — The Whistle — Incident — School —
Daniel Hoopes — Joseph Mull — Model School — Townsend
Haines and Brother — Competition in Arithmetic — Diffi-
cult Question Solved — Book of Discipline Copied — Wil-
liam Jackson — Samuel Spencer and others — Long meet-
ings— John Hallo well — Franklin's Book — Farmers' Li-
brary— John Jackson's Botanical Garden — Boy's Work —
Gleaning rake — Botanical Books — Rees's Encyclopaedia —
Scientific Terms, ........ 1

1808 to 1815.

My Last School — Algebra and Surveying — A Quandary— My

Certificate — Plainness — A Remarkable Man, . . .11

1815 to 1818.

The Sciences — Scientific Lectures — Philadelphia Dispensary —
Blood-Lettiug — A Fatal Mistake — The Practice — Obstet-
rics— The Ergot — Quizzing Club — Southern Dispensary —
Reported Cases — My Resignation — My Patrons — Samuel
P. Griffitts, M. D.— The Last Course— A Scare— The Close
of Lectures — The Green Box — My Notice — A Surprise —

The Examination— The Finale, 14

(t)

vi CONTENTS.

1818 to 1829.

The Man at Home — An Ambitions Spider — The Gnardian
Society — A Literary Clnb — The Change of Living — Onr
Marriage — Botanical Books — Who Made Him a Drunk-
ard— Fracture Apparatus — Dysentery — A Nervous Shock
— A Discovery — The Perplexity of Slavery — Free Labor
Goods — Home Grown Cotton— Chester County Cabinet —
Florula Cestrica — Botanical Press — Religious Services —
A Home, 27

1829 to 1846.
My Removal — Reminiscences-— Natural History — Trip to
Cincinnati — Disease of Hip- Joint — Recovery — Decease of
My Wife— My Illness — Visit to New Jersey — Second
Marriage — Visit to New York and Ohio — Visit to Vir-
ginia— Talks on Slavery, ....... 46

CORRESPONDENCE AND ESSAYS.
1846 to 1879.

Lotteries — Retrospect of Early Quakerism Published — Gen-
eral Grant and the Indians — Ante-Diluvian and Post-
Diluvian — Electricity — The Tornado — William D. Hart-
man, M. D. — A. Sharpless — Tornadoes and Tornado
Forces — The Conclusion — A Sad Neglect — J. Smith
Futhey — Gilbert Cope — Early Education Among Friends
in Chester County, etc., . 62

1879 to 1887.

Considerations on the Granting of Licenses to Sell Intoxicating
Drinks — Heredity of Drunkenness — The Conclusion —
Essay Prepared for a Temperance Conference — Power of

CONTENTS. vii

Appetite — The Granting of Tavern Licenses a Judicial
Function — Cause and Effect — Distinct Proposition-^A
Few Facts — A Friendly Letter — Tobacco in Schools —
Added Evidences — An Open Letter — The Temperance
Ladder — The Conclusion — A Point of Order and Disci-
pline— Brief Notes on the Burial Service — Rising in Time
of Prayer — Capital Punishment — A Plea for Arbitration —
Reflections on the Subject of a Paid Ministry — Conclusion
of an Interesting Letter — Other Congratulatory Letters —
"My Ninety-first Milestone" — "My Milestone Ninety-
two/' . . . .114

His Decease — A Brief Retrospect, 201

AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES

FROM THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF

EZRA MICHENER, M. D.

BIRTH AND PARENTAGE.

I was born on the twenty-fourth day of the Eleventh
month, 1794, in London Grove Township, Chester Co.,
Pennsylvania, on a farm successively owned and occu-
pied by my grandfather, father, brother, and nieces,
four generations.

My father, Mordecai Michener, was a son of Mordecai
and Sarah (Fisher) Michener. My mother, Alice
(Dunn) Michener, was the daughter of Ralph and
Anna (Heaton) Dunn.

My parents had four children, Robert, Lydia, Phebe,
and the baby, whose sur-name was Ezra. This historic
baby, like other babies, came into the world a mere un-
conscious mass of plastic clay, to be slowly moulded
and fashioned into whatever form of the human and
Divine the force of accompanying circumstances might
impress upon it. Happily, such are the heaven-im-
planted instincts of our nature, that even the bab}^ was
felt to be a loveable object by its parents and worthy of
their fostering care and tender sympathy, for which I
have ever owed them a debt of gratitude, an obligation
which is too easily and too often forgotten.

2 AUTOGRAPHICAI. NOTES.

The period from birth up to intelligent consciousness
is necessarily left an entire blank in an autobiography.
Could its history be fully written — its experiences of
pain and pleasure, the time and manner of development
of the observing and reasoning faculties, and the facility
with which it acquires a knowledge so diversified, of
the objects and language about it, perhaps exceeding
any other period of life— it would probably afford the
most interesting chapter in the life history of the man.

The earliest impression, still found on the tablet of
my memory, and the starting point of this self-told
history, was the death-bed scene of my grandfather
Dunn, who died the twenty-third of the Eighth month,
1797. Consequently I was not then three years old.
My dear mother led me to the bed-side where the venera-
ble form lay upon an old corded bed- stead that had
never seen paint, and which was shaking under him
from his death struggle. The picture was drawn too
severely true in its details to have been derived from the
narrative of others.

In the next year the late Dr. John Ross came to in-
oculate us for small-pox. His business was understood,
but "nothing known, nothing feared ; " my arm was
bared and I was called up to be scratched, nothing
daunted, as I was not hurt I did not complain, and the
others so encouraged came out of their hiding places.
The disease proved to be very light, but the treatment
was not pleasant — a cold room with half rations caused
many expressions of dissatisfaction.

My dear Uncle Henry and Aunt Sarah Simmons,
with some cousins, made us a visit. My brother, sis-
ters, and cousins, all several years older than myself,
started for a walk, and child-like I ran after, but was

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 3

soon remanded as too little to go along. My uncle
observed the movement and related it several years after
its occurrence. He said I stood for a few minutes
looking after the children, then turned back and sat
down in my little chair on the porch without saying
anything. After sitting sober and sad for a few minutes
I soliloquized, " Well, it is a fine thing to be satisfied,' '
and the gloom had passed away. This may be con-
sidered a trivial incident, but it brings a grateful remem-
brance of the pious care and training, even at that early
age, of a thoughtful, prudent mother, which has been a
perpetual blessing to me for almost a century.

It wTas about this period that I became a would-be-
drunkard. For some years of early childhood I was
subject to frequent, often daily attacks of colic, for which
my dear mother very kindly and quite as innocently
made use of the then and still popular remedies for
family use, mints, cordials, cherry bounce, etc., for
their name is legion. They consist essentially of alco-
hol in some form. While they may sometimes relieve
present pain they are powerless to prevent its return,
if they do not promote it ; but they do certainly and
speedily create an appetite, a craving and fondness for
alcoholic liquors, which too surely lead the possessor
down to ruin and a drunkard's grave. Such was the
appetite which I acquired for alcohol in almost any
form that more than four-score years of abstinence have
hardly abated its intensity. But my dear mother !
Little did that excellent woman suppose that she was
making and had virtually made her darling baby a
drunkard. She had never made him drunk, but she
had formed and fostered an inordinate appetite for that
which would lead to drunkenness, and jeopardized the

4 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

temporal and eternal welfare of the coming man. Had
that mother been aware of the mischief she was doing
she might have preferred to lay her tender charge in the
grave rather than incur the risk of becoming the author
of his ruin. The ample and wide-spread knowledge on
this subject has left mothers of the present day without
excuse, yet it is greatly to be feared that improvement
has not kept pace with knowledge.

A knife for a boy, a doll for a girl ; these generally
represent a little family kindergarten in the home circle.
They are, perhaps, the best, as they certainly are the
most desirable incentives to industry, manual dexterity,
and mental reflection. Nor is the mere possession suffi-
cient ; they should be encouraged, instructed, and
assisted in their work.

Whittling generally begins with the period of the
knife and the trowsers, but is not restricted to any age
or class of tools. Some whittlers never get beyond the
knife, and spend their lives trying to whittle nothing
down to a point, others whittle with an object in view ;
if the knife fails, they seek other means, the hatchet,
the saw, the plane. They go on increasing their skill
and knowledge until they can whittle a steamboat, a
locomotive, an iron or a cotton mill ; anything within
the sphere of human achievement.

It is impossible to say when my schooling com-
menced. My dear grandmother Dunn, now left a widow
and released from the active cares of the household,
sought relief from her loneliness by becoming my
teacher. My earliest distinct recollection of book learn-
ing is that of reading to her from the old family Bible
while she was engaged in spinning. She had not
studied and did not teach the art of good reading, but

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 5

her dull ear and the hum of her wheel led me uncon-
sciously to adopt two of its more important conditions —
a loud voice and a distinct articulation — a sure remedy
for fast reading. The culpable neglect of these con-
ditions has been poorly compensated for, by the intro-
duction of more fashionable methods.

It was the much needed caution of Dr. Franklin,
' ' Don't pa}" too much for the whistle. ' ' In my seventh
year I imprudently spent a cold, wet spring day in the
open barn with some carpenters ; this was my whistle.
The next morning I found myself with a severe attack
of acute inflammatory rheumatism — a price very far
beyond the value of the article.

The disease was at first spinal, but soon passed by
successive stages to every part of the system. The
acute pain did not last man}" days, but the swelling,
soreness, and entire loss of muscular power was far
more enduring. Sore and helpless I was carried from
the bed and placed on pillows in a reclining chair.
While in this condition, with my grandmother sitting
by me one warm summer day, we saw through the

open door D P , a worth}" young man who

had become religiously insane, approaching the house.
He was noisy and making many gesticulations, but he
was harmless and excited no fear. He walked in with-
out noticing any one, and came to where I was sitting.
Suddenly he stopped talking and stood still for a minute
•or two, no one speaking a word. He then kneeled,
laid his hand on my lap, and made what seemed to us
an appropriate and eloquent prayer for my restoration.
On rising he walked quietly out toward his home with-
out speaking to any one ; my father followed him and
took him home, apparently a sane man for the time

6 AUTOGRAPHlCAIv NOTES.

being. The incident was extraordinary, and I have
endeavored to state the facts truly. My condition evi-
dently exerted a calm and soothing influence upon his
excited mind. How far he was made an instrument
for my restoration may be less obvious ; certain it is,
that I gradually recovered, and have had little or no
return of that inexorable disease for more than four-
score 3^ears. There were various opinions in regard to
it then, and the}^ would hardly be more united in these
days of easy, cheap, and pharisaical praying so fashiona-
ble everywhere, and on all occasions. It cannot be

supposed that D P \s prayer was of this

ephemeral character.

As already mentioned I had learned to read, could
write pot hooks, and repeat the multiplication table at
home, and had gone to Daniel Hoopes, and to his suc-
cessor, Joseph Mull, who was my principal teacher.
He taught nothing beyond the rudiments, reading,
writing, and arithmetic, with a smattering of book-
keeping. No geography or grammar book was ever
seen in his school ; yet, without any of the modern
gloss, he was a model teacher. He held the position
for eight or ten years. In this school, for a time, the
late Judge Haines and his brothers, Abner and William,
were my companions and earnest rivals in competitive
arithmetic.

This study had been my forte. One day while I
was wading through fractions in the old Dilworth
arithmetic, my teacher turned over to a question in the
double rule of three, saying I would find it " a stumper ;"
he never had a scholar to do it, and his teacher, an old
schoolmaster, had told him the same thing. The time
came. The afternoon and evening were spent in vain.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. J

The next not being a school day, I devoted it wholly to
my question, and retired late at night without finding
any clue to it, crestfallen and completely "stumped."
But when I awoke in the morning a change had taken
place, and I had a clear view of the question. I hastily
dressed myself, took the slate and worked it off as fast
as I could write the figures. At school I put it on the
slate and showed it to the teacher. He immediately
asked, " Who did that ? " I told him I did not know ;
somebody had done it while I was asleep. I claim no
merit for the solution. I could not give it. I know
that others have had a like experience, proving the
activity of the mind while the bod}' is in a state of
apparent unconsciousness.

Even at this early period I felt that the lessons of the
schoolroom were only a mea?isy the materials with
which to build up a noble manhood, but I seemed
destined to the toil and drudgery of an old time farm
laborer. The family library consisted of the Bible,
Testament, Barclay's Apology, the fourth volume of
Gough's History, and two or three Friends' Journals,
with Walker's Dictionary — a recent acquisition at the
instance of the children.

My personal library contained Robinson Crusoe, Betty
Brown, The Cuckoo, and, more than all others, a Bible
a little more than an inch square and about as thick.
This served as an index to the most interesting texts,
and served to fix them on the memory. The book of
Discipline was held by the Yearly Meeting for the use
of its members. A copy was furnished to each meet-
ing for discipline. My mother being an overseer, the
book came to her in time, and I availed myself of the
opportunity to copy it entire. I now had a book of my

8 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

own in genuine angular chirography. More than fifty
years later I copied the manuscript Discipline issued in
1762, containing two hundred and eighty-seven cap folio
pages.

At the head of the meeting at this date, eighteen
hundred and five, sat William Jackson, Samuel Spencer,
and John Hamilton ; below them George Passmore,
John Jackson, and John Hallo well, with others. The
meetings were generally held about two hours, which
was wearisome to many, and led to unsettlement and a
continual running in and out, often quite a number on
their feet at once. Such conduct would now be thought
inexcusable. Children were taken to meeting more
generally then .than now, and the older friends were
more in the practice of taking notice of them and shak-
ing hands. This was especially true of good old John
Hallowell, who seemed unwilling to go home until he
had shaken every boy's hand, sometimes with a squeeze
that he would remember for hours.

While laboring under discouragement a friend lent
me Franklin's little book ; it was opportune. The les-
sons he taught me were industry, perseverance, self-
reliance, and the assurance that where there is a will
there is always a way.

It was at this critical period of my life that the

Farmers' Library, of I^ondon Grove, was opened at the

" house of John Jackson, the botanist and florist. My

father became a stockholder, and it naturally devolved

upon me to obtain and return books.

Here I found an ample variety of most excellent
reading, and, what was of scarcely less value to me, I
generally found the librarian in his delightful garden.
Seeing that I was interested in plants and flowers, he

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 9

took pleasure in leading me around to see them, and in
simple terms explained them to my understanding. In
the library room it was the same ; the windows had
their blooming plants, the table was loaded with mineral
and other specimens, while on the floor stood an elec-
trical machine, and a Hand Jennie for roving and spin-
ning cotton. The use of these the owner was ever
ready to exhibit and explain. He was always read}r,
too, to advise and assist me in the choice of books. To
me it seemed enchanted ground. Among the first books
I read were Mungo Park's Fables, Cook's Voyage
Around the World, and Darwin's Botanic Garden.

The library with its accompaniments was the starting
point of my student life. I now had books for teachers,
and a profusion of object lessons everywhere around
me. But even school-days were not all ha^on. The
boys must rise earlj-, build a rousing fire on the kitchen
hearth, then go and feed the stock, and perhaps thresh
oats until breakfast was ready.

In the harvest of those days hay had to be made and
dried. Hay making was a reality. Grass cut in the
morning was spread, in the evening raked into wind-
rows, perhaps cocked. On the morrow spread, turned,
raked, and cocked ; and the third day spread, raked
and housed. All this was done with the scythe,
hand-rake, and pitch-fork — the mowing-machine, the
hay-tedder, the horse-rake, and the pitcher or hay-
fork were all unknown. Grain was cut with the sickle
or cradle, and raked and bound by hand, with instruc-
tions when securely tied, to pull out with one hand the
loose straws from the head of the sheaf, and to rake
them from the butt, the scatterings to be put in the

IO AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

next sheaf. This careful method left little for the
gleaner.

I first tried the hand-rake for gleaning, but with poor
success. I next tried two rakes tied together ; they
were too light, the teeth too short. I then made a
heavier rake four feet long, with longer teeth, and hav-
ing two handles. This answered the purpose better,
but was wearying. Here it will be seen that I had the
famous horse-rake, only minus the horse, which no one
had then thought of supplying. It was not until years
after that anyone caught the idea of attaching a horse
to m}^ rake. When we see a new invention, how strange
it seems that we had not thought of it before ?

My innate fondness for plants and flowers was fostered
and intensified by my frequent visits to Harmony
Grove, but I did not find botanical books : indeed,
there does not seem to have been any book on the sub-
ject for beginners, either written by an American, or
printed in America for several years after. The library
furnished Rees's New Cyclopoedia in ninety -two half
volumes, quarto. This work afforded a rich store of
botanical knowledge. The genera were alphabetical
with the known species following, but I could seldom
stumble on the description of the plant before me ;
when I did so, I wrote down the botanical and common
names until I had a respectable list. I also made a list
of the scientific terms as they came under notice, with
definitions. In this wTay I unconsciously begun a
botanical dictionary for future study, a method of
juvenile authorship, which I have practiced more or
less during life, and one that I would strongly recom-
mend to all students. It is a valuable aid to memory.
A new word or definition arises, is hastily passed over

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. II

and forgotten ; write it down, and the strength and
duration of the impression is greatly increased.

I have already alluded to my early and inordinate
appetite for alcoholic liquors. While young and re-
maining mostly at home, I escaped temptation and
seldom saw much of its dangers, but as I grew older I
realized my position, and in my fifteenth year I oppor-
tunely witnessed in a neighboring harvest field, the sad
effects of the whiskey bottle. I say it was opportune
for me, as it happily proved the turning point, the
occasion then and there to form a resolution never more
to indulge in intoxicating drinks. The result has
proved most satisfactor}\ It may be noticed here, that
the fermented liquors were then hardly recognized as
belonging to the intoxicating class. When I began
housekeeping nine years after, I put three barrels of
cider in the cellar for vinegar, and there was also a half
barrel that I supposed might be needed in other ways ;
but I had three and a half barrels of vinegar. This
was the last cider that I stored away for drink. Now
the mischief of cider drinking is better understood.

Having exhausted at this period, 181 1, the lore of my
favorite teacher, I turned for a few weeks to another
school for the purpose of studying surveying and alge-
bra, having for some time made the former a private
study. I, of course, ran hastily over these branches,
in algebra as far as quadratic equations, in little over
six weeks, putting all the work down in the " Cypher-
ing-book." It is, I think, to be regretted that this
custom is so far lost sight of. Where neatness is en-
couraged it affords great aid in the use of the pen and
other instruments.

12 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

A QUANDARY.

I had now entered my twenty-first year. For two or
three years past I had sensibly felt that I was not con-
stituted for farm labor, and occupied my time in teach-
ing an occasional term, doing some surveying, then
on the farm again. The spring found me entered as a
regular farm hand. It proved, however, to be an at-
tempt to reconcile contradictions — to do that which I
had not the physical strength to do. Hence, I was
often obliged to allow my aged father to take the heavy
end of the log, which was more than I could submit to.

During the period named I had read many of the
scientific articles in the ponderous volumes of Rees's
New Cyclopaedia ; and I had observed that those relating
to medicine and the cognate branches had become more
especially interesting. Hence, it is not strange, when
deliberating on the choice of a profession, that I should
instinctively turn to the study of medicine.

The obstacles, indeed, seemed insurmountable. I
was illiterate, rude in speech and manners, had lived
very much apart from the outside world, had only seen
Philadelphia once, and only for three hours. Then
there was little intercourse between the city and country.
My cousins, Dr. David Jones Davis and his sister Mary,
were the only persons whom I knew in the cit}^ ; but
their living there opened a door of entrance and afforded
facilities that I could not otherwise have had.

In the autumn of this year I entered the office and
family of Dr. D. J. Davis. As I had fully anticipated,
I found myself in contrast with my surroundings, and
was often kindly reminded of some country habit, some
vulgar expression, etc. This was sometimes humili-

KZRA MICHENER, M. D. 1 3

ating, sometimes amusing. Once, after days of wet
weather, the pavements had become quite dirty. On
coming in I remarked that the pavements were very
muddy. Cousin Mary rebuked me — that I talked like
a countryman. The next morning I was standing at
the door when she passed out to the market. Her first
step on the pavement wras upon some mud, and she was
thrown upon her back. As I gently raised her up and
led her into the house, I softly whispered in her ear,
''The pavement is very muddy" This balanced ac-
counts, and we had a better understanding afterward.

MY CERTIFICATE.

My parents had prepared for me a certificate which I
took wTith me. When presented to the meeting, Dr.
Samuel P. Griffitts and another aged Friend were ap-
pointed to visit and look after me. There could not
have been a better choice made. The former, especially,
gave me much salutary advice, and continued a fast
friend as long as I remained in the city.

PLAINNESS.

I had resolved to adhere, under all circumstances, to
my plain wa}^ of speaking and dressing, and never had
cause to regret it. When I entered the lecture-room,
among nearly five hundred students, I was the only one
whose dress or address indicated a Friend, wThile there
were two of the professors and a number of the class
belonging to our Society. I was, no doubt, despised
and shunned by a large portion of the class, but I was
quite as willing to avoid them as they w7ere me. I
could readily affiliate with those whose purpose was

14 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

Study ; I did not wish others. My plain coat was an
excellent preserver.

I was indeed surprised to find how much attraction
and repulsion there was in a plain dress ; perhaps in
the assurance it afforded of quiet, orderly living, and
close attention to study.

A REMARKABLE MAN.

See Intelligencer and Journal. 1886—5 — 29, p. 345.

THE SCIENCES.

The science of medicine comprehends or demands
tribute from almost every other department of human
knowledge, and has contributed largely to their general
cultivation.

In the spring of 1816 I attended the lectures and
herborization of Dr. Wm. P. C. Barton, on botany,
which was a noble treat ; but there was still no book
suited for beginners. His Flora Philadelphicae was not
published till two years after.

SCIENTIFIC LECTURES.

My preceptor's penchant for lecturing was, perhaps,
in excess of his qualifications ; but it was opportune for
me. The first was a series of lectures on natural and
experimental philosophy. I pre-studied each lecture,
assisted in the preparation for it, and by becoming
familiar with the apparatus and its use, was allowed to
perform the experiments as the lecture proceeded. It
was delightful. The lecture on electricity was a splendid
affair — an elegant machine, a battery of six large jars,

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 15

etc., etc. The experiments had been successful. The
battery had been standing for some time with a mod-
erate charge. The room was crowded around the table,
which was loaded with apparatus. Suddenly the bat-
tery was discharged by some means quite unknown to
us. All that I know is that my arms and thorax formed
a part of the circuit, though several feet away from it.
The explosion caused many to rush out of the house,
but I was the only sufferer. The shock was severe,
yet I did not fall. The arms were momentarily para-
lyzed, and the respiration, if not the action of the heart,
was for a few moments suspended. If it had crossed
the brain it would likely have been fatal.

THE PHIIvA.DEI.PHIA DISPENSARY.

In the early summer of 1 8 1 6 a vacancy occurred in
this institution, then the only one of the kind in the
city. Through the kindness of Drs. Davis and Griffitts
I was elected house student. My salary wTas /J50 a
year, my boarding, with the house apothecary, at $3.50
per week. My duties were to assist the apothecary, do
the bleeding, etc. , etc. , and render such services as the
attending physicians might require. The practice of
the institution was attended to by six physicians in
rotation. The patients, including those who came to
the house, amounted to more than 4000 annually.

It is due to the memory of the venerable Dr. Griffitts,
who was more than seventy years old, and the grand
patron of that noble charity, that he visited almost
daily, and was ever ready, with words of cheer and in-
struction, to open the rich stores of his experience for
my instruction. I still recur to those lessons with
grateful remembrance.

l6 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

BLOOD-LETTING.

Bleeding was then strongly in the ascendant. I was
often directed to bleed some ten, or even up to twenty a
day — always by measure — gx-gxx, etc. I had studied
the effects likely to be produced as the evidence of its
beneficial effects, but was often sorely disappointed.
Sometimes the patient did not bear half the quantity
ordered. Sometimes the whole quant ity seemed to
produce no effect. Why was this ? Obviously the
doctor was in fault. He could not tell howT much blood
would be required to produce a certain effect. That
can only be determined at the time.

The house physicians accepted these suggestions, and
agreed, if I would give it attention, that they would
leave it wdth me. It was a heavy responsibility ; but
the prescriptions now came with a simple vs. I bled
tremblingly, watching the pulse, the respiration, the
skin, the subsidence of pain, etc., etc. The change was
soon observed, and inquiries wTere made how much
blood had been drawn in this or that case. Thus, I
became an expert in the use of the lancet, and may I
not say, also, in judging of the propriety and the extent
of its employment, instances of which I have published
from time to time.

See Medical and Surgical Reporter, 1869, 6 — 5 ; Country
Practitioner, 1881, 11 — 19 ; Hand-Book of Eclampsia,
etc., etc., etc.

My reliance upon the use of blood-letting has not
diminished. See my own case, as reported by J. H.
Stubbs, M. D., Medical a?id Surgical Reporter, 1882,

7-8.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 1 7

A FATAL MISTAKE.

For the last few days I had listened to and studied
Prof. Physic's lectures on strangulated hernia, when Dr.
Griffitts called and reported a severe case of colic, a
patient of Dr. Barnes, which he had just been called to
see. His description was so similar, almost in the
language of the lecturer, that I suggested whether it
might not be hernial. Next day, the patient worse,
with the same suggestion. But he said they had satis-
fied themselves on that point, although there was a
small tumor in the inguinal region. The next morning,
dead, and a request that I would assist Dr. Barnes in
the post-mortem, which I gladly embraced.

We met. "Well, Mr. Michener, I learn that you
have called in question our diagnosis in this unfortunate
case." "Not so; but I have feared that it was too
obscure for discrimination. " On exposure a hard,
prominent tumor, not larger than a filbert, presented
over the abdominal ring, without discoloration. "Do
you call that a hernia?" I examined it carefully, for
it was the first I had ever seen. I unconsciously shook
my head. The doctor confidingly took up the knife.
' ' I will soon show that you are mistaken ; ' ' and drew
the instrument across the tumor, when, to his horror,
he cut directly into the included intestine. It is easier
to imagine than to describe his feelings. He dropped
the knife, with the exclamation, " My God ! Michener,
don't you tell this, or it will ruin me."

How two experienced surgeons could mistake an
obvious case of hernia for colic is quite inexplicable.
But mistakes continually occur in the business relations
of life. It is for this reason that I preserve the case.

1 8 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

The doctors were not recreant of their duty, and their
skill as surgeons could not be called in question. Why
did they mistake ? We only know that men whom we
may call great — great in knowledge, experience and
confidence, often make great mistakes.

THE PRACTICE.

The happy result of bleeding for effect led to further
confidence, and I was sometimes requested to attend to
calls and report to the house physician. This practice
so increased that during the summer of 1817 the out-
door service was largely rendered fry me, subject to
their revision.

OBSTETRICS.

I had early formed an acquaintance with a Messey
Houston, a noted colored midwife who, perhaps, at-
tended more cases than any other person in the city
among the poor class. She had the skill to know7 and
the prudence to ask for assistance when difficulty pre-
sented. In this way I was introduced to many cases of
more than ordinary interest. M}r obstetrical cases
numbered 220.

THE ERGOT.

This singular production had been introduced to the
profession in 1807 by Dr. Stearns, as an ad partum oc-
clerandum, but its effects were still very imperfectly
known. Encouraged by Prof. Thomas P. James, and
an interesting letter from Dr. Stearns, I employed the
remedy, under various conditions, in about forty cases,

EZRA MICHENBR, M, D. 19

and reported results. I believe that I was the first to
employ and recommend its use as a uterine tonic, in
cases threatening abortion.

See Medical and Surgical Reporter, August 20, 1870, p. 145.

QUIZZING CLUBS.

In these clubs each member represented one of the
profession, and were thought indispensable adjuncts to
study. Even there a stumper was often felt unpleas-
antly. Sometimes they wTere only amusing. I was
told one day that Jesse Coates, late Dr. Coates, of Coates-
ville, had a stumper for me. We soon after met on the
street. He came up in his usual pleasant manner :
1 ' Michener, how many bones in the skeleton ? " " About
247. ' ' ' ' Coates, how many bones in the head ? " After
some hesitation he answered " Faith, I don't knowr ; I
will tell you their names, if you will count them."
Thus, the stumper was stumped.

SOUTHERN DISPENSARY.

During the summer our company started a Southern
Dispensary, away down in Shippen Street. At their
request I went dowTn on prescribing days to assist in its
management for several weeks. Its surroundings were
loathsome and unpleasant.

I had become identified with our institution and its
numerous wards. I was personally known wherever
its patronage extended. Perhaps my patrons were
numerically more numerous than those of anyone in
the city. I felt that much responsibility rested upon
my shoulders. The burden was heavy — too heavy to
be carried during the lecture season of my last course.
What was to be done ?

20 AUTOGRAPHIC AL NOTES.

REPORTED CAvSES.

i. Case of ovarian disease, with post-mortem. 2.
Case of puerperal fever, during the terrible, fatal and
widespread epidemic of 181 7. My purpose was to show
the wTonderful effects of copious bleeding in this disease.
They were published in the New York Medical Reposi-
tory, then the only medical journal known to me. In
the latter case, in order to draw attention to the most
essential point, I said that after opening a vein in each
arm I sat down to watch its effects. This apparent
sang froid afforded my friends some amusement.

MY RESIGNATION.

After due consideration I reluctantly handed in my
resignation to a meeting of the Board of Managers.
They appointed a committee to see me and try to reach
some arrangement that would permit me to remain.
This failed. On their report the Board accepted the
resignation, passed a resolution of thanks, and voted
me a bonus of $50 for extra service. Thus ended one
of the happiest — may I not hope, one of the most
useful — periods of a long life.

MY PATRONS.

Much has been said, and well said, about the danger
of young people going into the cities. But there has
not been enough said that the danger, perhaps the
fault, is too often their own. Here, for eighteen months,
I have spent much of my time ; not so much in the

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. 21

open streets as in the alleys and lanes, and among their
inhabitants, where vice and corruption of every grade
is most rampant. And I can bear this testimony — that
I was never treated with disrespect except in two in-
stances, both of whom were drunk. Nor was I molested
and annoyed, as young nien often were, by the infamous
street-wralkers, either on the public streets or when
called on business into their dens of wickedness. Cir-
cumspect watching and close attention to business were
my protectors, and it is writh pleasure that I bear testi-
mony to the little innate goodness that may be found in
the very worst of characters.

SAMUEL P. GRIFFITTS, M. D.

I have said he was the patron of our noble charity.
He was also my patron. The feeling of gratitude for a
benefactor is a virtue ; the expression of it is a duty for
the encouragement of others. He was neat, circum-
spect and systematic. The oldest physician in the city,
he had never kept a riding vehicle ; had worn the same
shoes for three years, the same coat eight years. I
always found him ready to advise and instruct. When
the time came for us to separate he said that his pre-
ceptor had once given him a little advice as a life-maxim,
worthy to be remembered on all occasions. He had
found it a good one, and would give it to me —

Never be in a Hurry,
Although it may very often be proper and necessary
to make haste.

It was with many regrets that I bade farewell to the
dispensary and its devoted patrons.

22 AUTOGRAPHIC AI< NOTES.

THE LAST COURSE.

To the earnest student his last course of lectures is a
season of strenuous effort. These, with time, the
necessary reading, dissections, etc., is a severe tax on
his physical and mental endurance. Dr. Davis had
fitted up a private anatomical theatre with a view to a
private course of lectures. I gladh- accepted the charge
of the room, and to make the necessary dissections.
This was as arduous as it was apropos. A class of some
twenty attended.

Dr. Davis had been for years out of practical anatomy,
and sometimes failed to make his demonstrations plain
to the class ; and, as I had made the preparations, they
would gather round the table after lecture for me to
repeat the lesson. Thus, I too became demonstrator of
anatomy, a useful service. Thus, for the space of four
months I retired at two o'clock in the morning, and to
breakfast before seven. It was, indeed, a severe tax,
but I bore it beyond expectation.

A SCARE.

Our anatomical room was entered by an outside stairs
to the third floor. An old man had it in charge. One
evening as the class left for tea I locked the door, not
noticing that he was inside. In the evening a student
wanted to get in. When I opened the door the old
man was sitting inside, in a crusty mood, supposing it
might have been intentional. He rose to his feet with
some rough words. But the student left instanter, with
some recollection of an old ghost story. He did not
return that night.

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 23

THE CLOSE OF LECTURES.

The close of the lectures brings small relief to the
graduating class up to their examination — a period of
anxiety and suspense of uncertain duration. To sensi-
tive minds success and failure is almost a question of
life and death.

I had seen much practice ; I had read of it, I had
studied it ; be3Tond this I had not found much leisure
for reading. I confidently staked n^ success on practi-
cal knowledge. This, I felt assured, would satisfy-
some of the faculty ; of others I was less certain. The
recent death of dear Prof. Wistar was cause of sorrow,
and the pro tern, gave some anxiety. I had nothing to
gain by subserviency, and determined to present a bold
front. I knew that some had failed from subserviency
alone by framing answers to please. I had read the
language of the poet, and had drawn some inspiration
from it. I had even read it to my classmates.

' ' Then let the trial come
And witness those, if terror be upon me,
If I shrink, or falter in my strength
When hardest it besets me. Do not think
That I am feeble, or infirm of soul. ' '

It was a want of confidence in some of the Faculty
which suggested this bravo, and not without cause.

THE GREEN BOX.

This consisted of a movable green baize screen, placed
around a door, and a window, into which the candidate
was introduced from without b}T the Dean, the other
members of the Faculty not knowing who the candidate
was. It contained an easy chair which, no doubt,
sometimes needed the prefix un.

24 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

MY NOTICE.

My family and friends were solicitous for me, and
had kept strict watch for two weeks to know when I
might be called. But the janitor handed me the notice
on the street to meet the Faculty at n o'clock to-mor-
row morning. I told no one.

A SURPRISE.

My excellent room-mate, a candidate for next year,
was all sympathy for me, and, prospectively, for him-
self. At 9 o'clock I took his arm, saying that we
would go round and see what was being done at the
college. As we entered the janitor's door who should
we meet but Prof. Chapman, the Dean, coming down
stairs. He seized my hand. "Mr. Michener, I am
glad to see you. The candidate has not come, and
the Faculty are waiting. Come right up stairs." This
was as much a surprise to me as to my companion. I
looked round and nodded a farewell. He, poor fellow,
returned to his chamber and did not speak to any one
till my return. It would, perhaps, have disconcerted
me too, if Dr. Chapman had not commenced to assure
me that I had nothing to fear, that the Faculty would
deal fairly with me, etc., etc., in which I felt no confi-
dence. But I was very soon in the green box.

THE EXAMINATION.

From the premature and irregular manner of my in-
troduction it is not probable that my identity was known
to any of the Faculty except the Dean.

EZRA MICHENERf M. D. 25

Dr. Physic led the way by a critical inquiry of the
symptoms and treatment of concussion of the brain ; the
symptoms and treatment of compression of the brain,
and the distinction between them.

The examination was close and critical, but it was
practical and perfectly fair ; and, when done, he ex-
pressed himself gratified with the result. This was
encouraging. Dr. Physic had been the terror of the
students. When he found a deficiency he was no
doubt severe. I felt that I had gained some capital in
his good opinion that might be found useful.

Dr. James — -He asked me quite a number of plain,
practical questions, such as adult students should
understand.

Dr. Dorse y — I regretted to have been deprived of
the service of dear Dr. Wistar, on anatomy. But there
was no appeal. The inquiries of Dr. Dorsey occasioned
no difficulty. Perhaps he remembered that he was only
a pro tern.

While Dr. Dorsey was examining me on the blood-
vessels, Dr. Physic asked leave to put one question to
the candidate. " What is there peculiar to the longitu-
dinal sinus of the brain ? ' ' This was rather calculated
to cause embarrassment, but, happily, the answer was
at hand, and he declared himself satisfied.

Dr. Coxe came next, but I was mercifully spared all
allusion to antediluvian chemistry. His questions were
mostly well chosen, the last one excepted : The differ-
ence between the ?iitrate of silver and lunar caustic?
This quizz had two tails ; I chose the shortest one ;
they were the same! He said "No! Lunar caustic
was nitrate of silver, melted and cast i?ito sticks or cylin-
ders." This was, indeed, a disti?ictio?i without a differ-

26 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

ence, as his own rectification acknowledged. Thus far
I felt that I stood pretty fair with the work, but I knew
where the tug would come from.

Dr. Chapman — He called my attention to several
diseases, their signs and treatment, more especially that
protean and fatal disease — Cholera Infanhim. He called
attention to some thirteen or more propositions, which
he had enunciated for the treatment of it. I gave them
in rotation, at least so far as I could, but added that
I was sorry that he had acknowledged that they often
failed to effect a cure.

But the professor did not stop when he was do?ie.
There had been contraiy teaching, and a coolness existed
between Drs. Chapman and Dorse}- relating to certain
morbid effects from the use of some of the preparations
of mercury. He gave the question in its broad aspect.
I gave him a cautious, but full answer, strictly according
to his own teaching. l ' Yes, sir ; but is there not a dif-
ferent doctrine taught in the school?" ''There is."
" Then will you please to state what that doctrine is ? "
4 ' No, / will not ; if Dr. Dorsey should ask the ques-
tion, I may answer it." "Will }'ou please state what
is your own opinion f" " I will not. I have seen the
medium used ; I have used it, and have formed an
opinion ; but this is not the proper place to express it."
Dr. Physic earnestly protesting against such questions,
and commending me for ?iot answering them. Rather
hot work.

Dr. Dorsey — After some proper questioning on the
materia medica, relapsed, and asked precisely the three
questions of Dr. Chapman, which I answered in the
same manner, 011I3' giving his own teaching. My friend,
Dr. Physic, again protesting.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 27

"Well, sir, you have sustained an excellent exami-
nation, but will you please to answer one more question —
What is the meaning of that hard word Apophligma-
tizontes?" My answer was also in Greek — " Dr.
Dorsey, I neither know or care its meaning. It does not
belong to our literature." Dr. Physic again rebuked
his nephew sharply. He then said, " No matter ; I did
not expect the gentleman to answer it."

THE FINALE.

The Dean now led me out into the adjoining room,
while the Faculty consulted, and the next minute re-
turned and congratulated me, and introduced me to the
Board. When the door was opened there stood Dr.
Physic, with outstretched arms, to receive and con-
gratulate me. I never knew how many black balls I
received. My diploma is dated the 10th of the Fourth
month, 1818.

THE MAN— AT HOME.

I had now returned home to my father's. I had pre-
ferred to locate in my native place. There were already
three doctors — Ross, Allison and Ankrim, all within
two to three miles, none of whom could tolerate a rival.
Dr. Ross was preparing to remove West, but he had
chosen a scccessor in Dr. Chamberlain, and threw the
entire weight of his influence into the scale against me.

I had, in my brief experience, learned the necessity
for self-reliance. I had learned the importance of a
quiet, unobtrusive attention to my own business. I had
learned, too, that it required two parties to get up a

28 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

fight. I announced n^self a candidate for the confi-
dence and patronage of my friends and neighbors, and
sat down to await results.

The removal of Dr. Ross required that many families
should choose a younger and a strange family physician.
This was often, especially with women, a serious matter.
A friend of Dr. Ross, in whose family he had given
much attendance, called to see him, with this inquiry :
' ' Doctor, we have now to choose a new family physician,
and I have come to ask thy candid opinion who we had
better employ ? M After a pause : " Well, William, you
know that Dr. Michener is the youngest of them, and I
hate him ; but, as you ask my candid opinion, I must
say you had better choose him." About this time I
was elected an honorary member of the Medical Society
of Pennsylvania.

AN AMBITIOUS SPIDER.

This morning I found a field sparrow in the grass,
unable to fly. On catching it I was surprised to find
that during the night a wily spider had been employed
winding its coils around the base of the tail and tips
of the wings. So industrious had it been, so numerous
were its gossamer coils, that they almost equalled a
pack thread. The bird had released one wing, but its
strength was not adequate to loose the other without
the assistance of a kind sympathizer. It was not an
accidental entanglement in a spider's web. The band
consisted probably of hundreds of coils, compactly and
artistically applied. The manner of the work afforded
evidence of design on the part of the spider, but that
design will remain a problem.

EZRA MICHENKRT, M. D. 2Q

THE GUARDIAN SOCIETY.

Our auctions, indeed most public gatherings, had be-
come so infested with liquor suttlers and drunkenness
as to become public nuisances. The Guardian Society
was formed to prevent such illegal sales. This was
only a half temperance measure, but it obtained a
violent opposition, and eventually affected its purpose.
It elicited many curious and interesting incidents.

Robert Graham, of New London, and Robert White,
of the Manor, two most excellent men of their kind,
with a sprinkling of their respective congregations,
soon came to us. But the temperance field was too
narrow for their broad philanthropy. Robert Graham
very soon proposed to give Sio of our funds for the
relief of sufferers in Savannah ; it w7ould be such an
honor to the Society. But there was no money in the
treasury.

Israel Jackson, Robert Graham and myself were ap-
pointed a business committee. I suggested, very inno-
cently, that if we were expected to promote temperance
in others, we must be so ourselves ; must begin at
home ; must clear our own skirts ; cleanse our cup-
boards and sideboards, and refuse to partake of liquors
when offered, or to offer them to others. Israel Jackson
accepted the idea at once, but I saw that Robert Graham
was pinched. He said that he could pledge himself not
to partake of them, but he could not bind himself not
to give them to others. This was a paradox that re-
quired an explanation. In his situation he had many
calls from his people, and it had become an established
custom to give them something to drink. If he should
decline, his motive would be misunderstood, offense

30 AUTOGRAPHIC AL NOTES.

would be taken, and his influence would be lessened.
The reply was : " If it is thought, among his people,
necessary to make men drunkards in order to save their
souls, the success of the means may well be questioned. ' '
But Robert Graham was a noble fellow, and only
required a little time to throw off the shackles of a
vicious custom, in order to see clearly, and accept the
true temperance ide*a.

PRIESTCRAFT.

However protean the form may be, priestcraft is ever
and always substantially the same. Robert White
thought that while we were looking after the whiskey-
boys, we might also look up the Sabbath-breakers.
But some of us preferred to leave that service to those
whose business it was more especially to use it.

One day we found our meeting filled largely with
strangers from the church named. Robert White offered
a resolution affirming the ordination of a Christian
Sabbath, and the duty of its observance. As chairman
I replied that if such an institution had been so or-
dained, we must all acknowledge the duty to observe it.
But I had not been able to find any evidence of it in
the Christian Scriptures. He was astonished to hear a
gentleman of so much intelligence and learning say so,
when there was such an abundance of it. Well, if so
abundant, it will become found. What is it ?

He then began a regular set-to, commencing with the
seventh day of creation, and for some half hour des-
canted learnedly on the Mosaic or Jewish Sabbath,
without any prospect of his getting away from it. I
stated that the Jewish Sabbath was a fixed fact ; there
was no controversy about it ; but the resolution related

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 31

to a Christian ordinance. Would he please turn to that ?
He did so, and exhausted his own and his hearers
patience, if not his faith, in the vain search ; but he
nowhere found the injunction, " to remember the Sab-
bath day to keep it holy." — Ex. xx. 8.

Robert Graham tried his prentice hand with no better
success. Their failure was complete. They had prob-
ably never before examined the subject for themselves,
trusting to the conclusions of others, and did not know
the feebleness of their cause. After a free and interest-
ing discussion I stated that I was willing to go as far as
the Apostle Paul :

" Who art thou, that judgest the servant of another.
* * One man esteem one day above another ;
v ' another esteemeth every day alike ; let each man be
" fully assured in his own mind." — Rom. xvi. 6.

1 ' If you feel the obligation it is your duty to observe
the day. If I do not feel the obligation, there is no
adequate power on earth to require me to observe it. It
is not a proper subject for either legal or moral
restraint."

The parting was rather cool, and it was the last we
saw of our Presbyterian neighbors. It seems that a
more serious ruse de guerre has been practiced in con-
nection with the nomination of a temperance ticket
recently in this State. See proceedings of County and
State Proceedings. _

READING IN PUBLIC.

To read well in public is a high attainment. With a
view to this object we formed a class, to meet once a
month, to read in public. Every one was allowed to
attend on condition of reading the lesson given them
and allowing a free criticism of the performance. The

32 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

plan proved to be both pleasant and instructive. A
case : I. G. had a niece at school, whose teacher said it
was useless for her to read the school lessons — she was
perfect in reading. The uncle, somewhat doubting,
when he heard of our class, put her on a horse and
sent her up. An entire stranger, she took the book and
read the lesson flippantly, just as fast as she could,
imperfectly articulating the words. As a stranger she
was allowed to pass, and reported ver}' satisfactory ; no
fault found. lt Well, she was a stranger ; I will send her
again." The reading was in the same style, but the
criticism was damaging. The report was : ' ' They
tore my reading all to pieces ; I did not know anything
about reading."

11 Well, I think that will do ; I will keep her to it."
And he did so, till she became quite a good reader, and
sincerely thanked us for the severe ordeal that she
had passed through.

A LITERARY CLUB.

During the ensuing winter Israel and William Jack-
son, Joseph J. Lewis and myself met once a week to
read and discuss paper on literary and scientific sub-
jects. Several series of essays were furnished for the
Village Record, which excited much public interest.

A CHANGE OF LIVING.

A warm attachment existed mutually between Sarah,
daughter of Samuel and Mary Spencer and myself, and
we contemplated marrying whenever business prospects
might justify such a procedure. It was not convenient

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 33

for me to stay much longer at my father's, and a home
among strangers would cost about as much as keeping
house in a small way. We were poor, but we believed
that we could be happy, and by industry and economy
we could build up the comforts of life around us, and
enjoy them so much the more. Such was the conclusion
reached, and my father became my bondsman for a lot
of fourteen acres, with a small log-house, pre-occupied
by legions of bugs and roaches.

OUR MARRIAGE.

We were married on the 15th of the Fourth month,
181 9, and soon after occupied our new home as tenants
in common. While wTe lacked some of the comforts and
conveniences to which we had been accustomed, we
escaped many of the vexations and toils of high life.
We could realize the truth of the proverb, " Man needs
but little here below, nor needs that little long." We
were a happy pair.

BOTANICAL BOOKS.

I had attended Dr. Barton's botany class while in the
city, but he had no book for the use of the beginners.
He was then preparing, and has just published, his
''Flora Philadelphicae," in two volumes, the first and
only book I could obtain until Dr. Darlington published
his unique little " Florula Cestrica/' in 1826. No
wonder my progress in botany was slow.

CIDER.

Up to this period, and even later, fermented drinks,
wine, beer, cider, had been relegated to an anomalous
position, somewhere between drunkenness and sobriety.

34 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

The user was not accounted a drunkard, yet he was
often drunk.

My total abstinence pledge, nine years since, did not
embrace cider, but led me to observe its effects. I
observed that many farmers stored away quantities of
cider for drink ; that farmers' winter-evening visits
were more frequent than when it was less abundant,
and I found that some serious quarrels between near
neighbors had originated at those meetings. I could
not fail to compare the effects of cider with those of
whiskey, and draw my conclusions. I was ready on
the first intimation to class them together.

In the autumn my new home afforded a supply of
cider. After culinary uses I had three and a half barrels
left ; three were stored away for vinegar ; the half bar-
rel was put in the cellar without any definite purpose,
supposing it would do to use in some way ; but in the
end I had three and a half barrels pf fine vinegar. This
was my last storage of cider for drink. I may have
occasion again and again to refer to the cider question.

Our son Spencer was born 1820 — 2 — 25. He was one
of those good children who, as the gossip has it, was
too good to live. He was, indeed, remarkably quiet,
gentle, mild-dispositioned and lovable. This was not
a mere parental fancy.

WHO MADE HIM A DRUNKARD?

I have elsewhere spoken of my appetite for alcoholic
drinks, and my resolve to refrain from their use. I now
found myself placed in a new relation to them. There
were few families where the article was not used, and
Dr. Ross had trained his patrons to provide it for his

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 35

visits. It was even thought that a neglect to do so
could be seen in his bills. Almost wherever I called
the same courtesy was extended to me, and in some
cases my refusal to partake was misunderstood, and
offense taken.

On the morning after the Quarterly meeting, in the
Eighth month, I was called, a personal stranger, into
the most worthy and respectable family of Samuel and
Elizabeth Pennock, where I found several Friends who
had been at meeting the da}^ before. The good mother,
than w7hom there are fewT better, asked her daughter
Eliza to bring some wine. She came prepared to. serve
the company. I was young, poor and dependent ; those
present were wealthy and influential ; yet I felt that I
had a duty to perform. The wine came to me first, as
a stranger. I declined, saying coolly, that I seldom
drank that kind of wine. The mother, not at once
accepting my meaning, replied that the wine wras good.
I told her that I did not question the qualit}' of the
wine, but I supposed that they had what was better for
drink. She then relieved her daughter' s embarrassment
by saying, - ' We have very good water, if that is w7hat
thee means." The wine was substituted by a pitcher
of water. This was my text for a temperance lecture.
" My dear Friends, I did not come here to behave rudely,
but this is to me a very serious matter. You have all
known Dr. Ross ; you all know that he was intemperate
— a drunkard ; and you all have, no doubt, censured
him for it. But have you ever considered who it was
who made Dr. Ross a drunkard ?

* ' Now my appetite for drink is very strong- — perhaps
equal to that of Dr. Ross ; and I have had the offer of
drink three times since I left home, and may have three
more before my return. L,et me ask, ' what would be

36 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

the consequence if I should accept it whenever offered ? '
The)' said with one voice I would soon become a drunk-
ard. ' Then do please tell me who would have made
me a drunkard ? ' I need not repeat the answer.

" My Friends, here is my danger ; I feel it, and am
averse to being made a drunkard, and need the aid and
sympathy of nr\T friends." This brought tears into the
good mother's eyes, with an acknowledgment, in which
the company joined, that she had never taken so serious
a view of the subject before.

After this event I had a very intimate social and pro-
fessional connection with the family for man}^ }rears,
but it was the last wine I ever saw in the house. The
report of this temperance lecture reached other house-
holds, where it produced fruit, and I felt arnpl}- re-
warded for the unpleasant service.

Our son Ellwood was bom 25th of Second month,
1821.

About this time I was appointed the assistant clerk
of New Garden Monthly Meeting ; William Jackson,
Jr., the clerk.

We wTere now called to the painful realization of the
gossip alluded to in the loss of our dear Spencer, who
died the 31st of the Eighth month, 1822, of an abberant
form of d}Tsentery, which, from later experience, seems
not to have been comprehended properly by the pro-
fession.

Our son Jenner was born 6th of Eleventh month, 1822.

FRACTURE APPARATUS.

It was during this year that I constructed the appa-
ratus for fracture of the os femoris, which proved
satisfactoty for more than sixty years.

EZRA MICHEXER, M. D. 37

We were again called, unexpectedly, to mourn the
loss of our dear little Jenner, who died rather suddenly
on the first da}' of the year. This severe affliction
seemed, in the end, ominous of a season of extreme suf-
fering.

Our son Spencer, 2nd, was born 14th of Eighth
month, 1824.

DYSENTERY.

The summer of 1S24 was rendered memorable by a
severe epidemic of dysentery. It commenced at early
harvest in the western border of Kennett and in New
Garden, and extended rapidly across London Grove and
Franklin Townships. It was originally confined to a
belt of two miles wide ; but later some extralimital
cases occurred. It was more general, and as might be
expected, was most fatal in Xew Garden. While quite
severe in the valley, it never ascended Toughkenamon
hill. More than sixty interments were made at Xew
Garden within sixty days. It was estimated that
one hundred and twenty deaths resulted from it. My
own dear mother, after having nursed some nine or ten
grandchildren, became exhausted and fell a victim to
the merciless disease.

It was thought that the pestiferous line could be
faintly traced from the Delaware to the Susquehanna.
In my circle the mortality was principally among
children, but in the practice of Dr. Chamberlain many
adults fell victims to it. The disease was undoubtedly
more virulent in Xew Garden.

38 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

A NERVOUS SHOCK.

Five children had been seriously ill in a large
family of very worthy character and plain habits, but
with little knowledge of themselves or of the world.
This was specially true of an older brother. This morn-
ing one of the children died, the first death that he had
ever witnessed. It was a very hot day in the Eighth
month, when I found him walking about in a full
winter suit, well buttoned up, and withal cold. He
assured me that he was taking the disease, and would die
too. It was a severe nervous shock.

To turn his attention into a different channel without
seeming to doubt his words, I handed him a heavy
dose of calomel and jalap. "What was it?" I told
him. He said the calomel was made of dead men's
bones, but what was the jalap? A more intelligent
brother then interfered, but he smelled the medicine ;
he never could take that, it smelled just like the
disease.

He had a large fire made on the kitchen hearth and
laid down on the floor. Eater, a friend prevailed on
him to take the dose, and go to his bed ; but he soon
returned to the kitchen floor. That "doctor stuff"
had poisoned him, and he rolled over the floor under
the impression that he was dying. He even had the
family called, bade them all farewell, and as a dying
request, begged them never to take any ' ' doctor stuff. ' "
The reader can imagine the further details. I found him
the next morning free from disease and well. The
remedy had been well chosen.

Now this is not given as merely laughable, but as a
serious fact. Men of stronger intellect may be sud-
denly affected in the same manner.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 39

A DISCOVERY.

In common with others I [had been grieved and
perplexed at our want of success in the treatment of
small children. They generally died, after a short ill-
ness, with symptoms of cerebral excitement and white
evacuants. While even the lancet was available with
adults, it was often doubtful whether the exhaustive
treatment of those little innocents did not increase
rather than diminish the trouble. It was a vague idea.
Can this difficulty proceed from exhaustion ? But I
resolved to test a reverse procedure.

I asked Dr. Aukrim, one evening, to see a little
fellow who appeared to be sinking rapidly, and to give
me his opinion. "Well, he will probably die to-mor-
morrow, just as others have done." I showed him the
prescription that I had prepared for him. "If you
give him that, I will see your patient in the morning. "
It consisted of Huxham's tincture, paregoric and spirits
of nitre.

In the morning": He had slept, the- brain was appa-
rently relieved, the bowels mostty quiet, and he
speedily recovered. Other cases proved equally propi-
tious. Where I had lost fourteen out of seventeen, I
was soon able to reverse the proportions. I had crossed
the Rubicon. But I had done more. I had fairly
anticipated the great discovery which has immortalized
the names of Drs. Abercrombie, Hall and Goosh, at
least a dozen years later, of the frequent occurrence of
spurious hydrocephalus. Unfortunately I neglected to
publish my discovery, and lost the credit of it.

40 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

THE PERPLEXITY OF SLAVERY.

It appears that in the palmier days of slavery, a man
named Stephens died in Cecil Count}', Md., possessed
of Jarvis and Mary, and four sons, Duke, Moses,
Stephens and Richard. Mary R. Sappington took
Jarvis and Mary, and Jacob Stephens took the boys as
part of their inheritance professedly, to prevent their
being sold to slave dealers.

The good Mary R. Sappington, for such I esteemed
her, was soon left a widow, and poor, }ret could not
consent to sell her faithful slaves, for whom she had no
further use. They were at length permitted to go
away and came to West Grove, where they lived
several years, and became favorites for honesty and
industty. They were finally arrested and consigned to
slavery again. They were lodged in Elkton jail, on the
plea of safe keeping — perhaps to await a slave dealer,
the claimant payiiig the board. Mahlon Preston and
myself visited Elkton, obtained counsel, and had them
attached as kidnapped persons. This prevented their
removing them. So well were they known and
esteemed that the jailor gave them the freedom of the
town, only to return at night. Once he gave them
three days to visit their friends at West Grove.

Tired of paying jail charges, the pair were again
released and returned to West Grove, where they
obtained free tickets to parts unknown.

Some months later, as I sat on my porch on a First-
day afternoon, I noticed four men crossing the fields in
a direct line from Elkton to my house. I at once
thought of Jarvis' boys. They were coarse clad, but
noble looking fellows. One of them inquired for Dr.

EZRA MICHEXER, M. D. 41

Michener, and when he was assured of his man, he
said : " We are Jarvis' boys." They were plentifully
fed, their knapsacks well filled, and their pockets re-
plenished with a little of the needful. Then the shrill
whistle of the under-ground railroad rang out its
mysterious notes to the simple tune :

u Lead us from this evil land,
From the spoiler set us free ;
And once more our gathered band,
Heart to heart, shall worship thee."

And they were gone to pay their respects to Queen
Victoria.

I had sent an anonymous letter to Jacob Stephens, but
the answer was very long delayed. It was as follows :

Wabwick, Cecil County, Md., Feb. 23, 1824.

3Iy Unknown Friend :

Your letter did not reach me until this day. (??) I now return
you an answer. A manumission can be obtained by your coming
forward and paying me a reasonable price for Jarvis and Mary
and all their children. I consider them very ungrateful for their
conduct. (He then repeats the history as above.)

They have all left me. When I took them they were not able
to work, except Duke. And I myself have worked harder to
raise them boys than ever they worked for me. I have been
offered five hundred dollars apiece for them boys. I would not
sell them because it (lid not agree with my feelings to sell them
like horses. I would not take a thousand dollars for the smallest
one I have, needy as I am for the sake of money.

Xow, my friend, if you or any of the Friends will come to me
and pay me a reasonable price for them, I shall think you are
doing justice to them and to me too, and then I will manumit
them all ; otherwise I will pursue them until the day of my death
but what I will have them. You or any friend coming to see me
on that business, shall be treated with respect.

Respectfully yours,

Jacob Stephens.

42 ATJTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

This interesting narrative reflects both the evil and
the good of slave-holding. They had been trained to
slavery, perhaps in its mildest form. We see it did
not eradicate all the better feelings of their nature. It
may be well for us to consider : ' ' Can the Ethiopian
change his skin ; or the leopard his spots ? Then
may you also do good, that are taught to do evil.''
(Jer. 13-23.) Had we been trained as they were we
would probably have been slave-holders like them.

FREE LABOR GOODS.

Many persons having become dissatisfied with the
use of the products of slave labor, an association was
formed in Philadelphia and elsewhere for mutual aid in
procuring free goods.

We purchased free goods in quantity and distributed
them to agents. On one occasion we purchased several
bales of cotton and had it manufactured to order.

Our son Eea was born the 6th of Second month, 1826.

HOME-GROWN COTTON.

This season I planted a small garden plot with
cotton and succeeded bravely. The bolls were large,
and well filled with an excellent fibre. I deteriorated
the crop by mixing the late picking after frost. My
gin was improvised of two rollers an inch thick and
ten inches long of hard wood and connected with cog
wheels, the lower one turned by a crank. It was
surprising how completely and rapidly it did the

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 43

work. The cotton was spun at the Jackson Mill
and wove in the neighborhood, making seventeen
yards.

CHESTER COUNTY CABINET.

Under the leadership of Dr. Wm. Darlington, a
friend of the natural sciences, wTas organized the Chester
County Cabinet. The object was two-fold ; first, to
form a collection of the natural productions of the
County; and second, to gather materials for its pros-
pective history. The workers were few and the
progress slow, until the whole was gulped up by
another Jonah whale — the West Chester Normal School.

FEORUEA CESTRICA.

Dr. Darlington being engaged preparing his little
work, the Florula Cestrica, requiring original research,
requested my assistance in the wTork. This gave a
fresh impulse to my botanical enthusiasm. The book
was soon finished and proved to be a rich boon to
Chester County botanists, the second wTork I obtained
on that subject.

THE BOTANIC AE PRESS.

Many methods had been tried for pressing plants
wThile drying for the Herbarium, but the screw did
not answrer, and the application of weights was incon-
venient and uncertain. It wanted a constant pressure
during shrinkage, and one that could be varied at
pleasure to suit the condition of the plants.

44

AUTOGRAPHICAI, KOTES.

LX

The Construction. — Take two pieces of 3-inch stuff,
one iS inches, the other 2 feet long, and tenant them to-
gether, as seen at A, B, C. It is convenient to give it
feet at the ends A, B, C. Cut the floor-board of any
convenient size, say 15 by 20 inches, and attach it to
the tripod. Cut the upper or press-board of the same
size. Prepare two cleats, E, three inches high at the
middle, with bearings at the summit for a roller ;
attach them along the upper edges of the board. Have
roller turned of strong wood, 18 inches long and not
less than 3 inches thick, with two bearings cut down to
one inch to correspond with the cleats. Bore several
holes near the middle of the roller for the reception of a
notched lever and sliding weight. Take two straps of
light harness leather an inch wide and 12 inches long,
attach one end of them at A and B, the other ends to
the outer ends of the roller at F and G, and the press is
complete. It will press one plant or a hundred with the
same force.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D.

45

RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

The obligation to duly attend religious meeting is a
permanent duty, and is paramount to the ordinal busi-
ness concerns of life. My record will, I think, show a
busy life, though unfortunately not equally useful ; yet

The records of Society will show somewhat of its claims upon
my time and attention : thus, from 1821 to 1868 I had occupied
the clerk's table in the several meetings for forty-eight years,
including the revolutionary period of 1827.

It may be mentioned as a remarkable coincidence that my wife,
Mary S., has served in like manner forty-one years, and my chil-
dren, Ellwood, Lea and Phebe, have done similar service. Mary,
being often absent as a teacher, escaped. Up to this writing the-
record is as follows, commencing 18*21 :

Peep.

Mo.

Qr. Y. M. 1 Total.

E. Michener

10

28

10 48 years.

M. S. Michener

11

25 5

41 "

Ellwood Michener

4

8

15

27* "

Lea Michener

7

7 "

Phebe Webster

18

2

20 "

For the Family, 143 years.
SYLVANIA, First of First Month, 1885.

X. B. — Ellwood and Phebe are still in the service.

*Add 5 to 7 years in Meetings of Concord Quarter.

EECAPITUL A.TIOX.

PPvEP. Monthly Quarterly.
Mg. Asst. Clk. Asst. Clk.

Yearly.
Asst. Clk.

E. Michener
M. S. Michener
Ellwood Michenerf
Lea Michener
Phebe Webster*

10

4

7
18

7

1

till
2

21
11

7
death

8
8

10
17

7

5

48 yrs.
41 u
27 "
7 "
20 "

143 "

fTo which add for Ellwood, from 5 to 7 years, within Concord Quarterly.

*Still under appointment First of First Month, 1885.

46 AlTTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

my engagements did not ordinarily prevent my attend-
ance of meetings, except those of a professional char-
acter which generally claimed the priorit}^. Indeed, on
one occasion (1824), I was not inside of a house of wor-
ship for three months.

Our daughter Maty was born 1st of Third month,
1828.

A HOME.

Nine years of frugal management had so far improved
our circumstances as to justify and require better ac-
commodations for the family, either by building or
removal. The latter expedient was furnished in the
autumn of this year by Dr. Chamberlain proposing to
quit practice and offering his propert5r in New Garden
for sale. The terms were soon fixed, but possession
could not be obtained until the Fourth month ensuing.
In 1 83 1, I wrote my essa}^ on " Religious Society."
Our daughter Phebe was born 22d of Twelfth month,
1831.

MY REMOVAL.

On my removal, in the Spring of 1829, to New
Garden, I generally met a friendly welcome.

REMINISCENCES.

The summer of 1832 was rendered memorable by the
prevalence of that terrible disease, Cholera. On the first
report of it in Philadelphia, I visited the city in order to
see the disease for myself and to learn something in re-
lation to it. I did not do either, Dr. , who had

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 47

just returned from Montreal, answered my inquiry
thus: "My dear fellow, I have no information to
give."

Wilson Walker and wife came from Philadelphia to
his father's at the old Mermaid Tavern, just over the
Delaware line. She was attacked that night ; a sister,
I think, the next night, and a wash-wonian two days
later. None of them survived more than ten hours.
They wrere attended by Drs. M and C — .

A few days later I wTas called to see James Walker
of New Garden, my first experience. He was attacked
at four ; I saw him at eight ; he died at twelve. Drs.

M and C called during the forenoon and

staid until he died. They had seen Alexander Mc-
Dowell at the Mermaid, where most of the family wTere
sick. They prescribed for James Dixon and for S.
Walker and wife and two boarders on their way up.
Four of these were Cholera cases. Later in the day
Dr. Murphy and I called on S. Walker's, thence to
James Dixon's, where we staid out of a shower long
enough to see him die. At the Mermaid, Alex. Mc-
Dowell had been dead an hour. He lay as he had
died, no one to go near him but his infirm father, eighty
years old. I had never shrunk from dangers belonging
to my profession, and while w7aiting the return of Dr.

C , I threw off niy coat and wTith the help of the

aged father, soon placed the corpse in the best condition
the circumstances would allow. This was my first day
among the Cholera ; three deaths in six hours, wTith
eleven more sick, mostly with the same disease.

Two days later we were called to another case and
left the patient in the evening expecting he might not
live until our morning call ; instead, we found him in

48 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

violent delirium, the skin hot and dry, face flushed,
eyes red and water}', breathing short and hurried, pulse
full and up to eighty. It was a change of which we
had never heard. The question was asked, "What
shall we do ? " My answer was, Goby the symptoms,

subdue this violent action. Drs. M and F

said we have had a collapse and must use stimulants.
I washed my hands of all responsibility while they
drenched him with brand}'. He was rapidly ex-
hausted by the violent action and died three or four
hours after. There were five deaths at the Mermaid

and three outside. It was curious that Drs. M ,

C and F were all strong contagionists,

and after two or three days exposure, sickened, as they
fancied, with Cholera, and left the field to me alone.

It is worth}' of note that while the people were shut
up in their own houses through fear, Joseph and Lydia
Way, like good Samaritans, opened their house for the
physicians in attendance ; to call at all hours either for
rest or refreshment for themselves or their horses.

" NATURAL HISTORY.

I had made a pretty general collection of the botani-
cal productions of the County and wished to try
my hand at Zoology. I found books treating of this
subject about as scarce as they had been on Botany ;
but about this time I made the acquaintance of the late
John K. Townsend of Philadelphia. He was a correct
ornithologist, an expert taxidermist, and a good shot.
His leisure and inclination led him often to my place,
where he spent days and even weeks at a time ; indeed

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 49

after his return, the larger part of the narrative of his
journey to the Columbia River and Sandwich Islands
was written in my studio.

In this year I visited Brigantine Beach, the noted re-
sort for shore birds during the breeding season, in com-
pany with two or three others. In three or four days
I obtained seventy birds and five hundred eggs.

In 1838, I furnished a room for lectures and a
lyceum, giving a course of lectures more especially
treating of Anatoiny, Physiology and diseases peculiar
to the female sex. The class was composed of forty-
five women, married and single, and was, so far as I
know, the first of its kind. It was greatly appreciated
by the audience and is still notably spoken of.

The winter lyceum was attended by near fifty mem-
bers. I gave instruction in experimental Philosophy
at each meeting, and many interesting papers and dis-
cussions w7ere produced.

In 1839, eighth of First month, occurred the death of
our dear son Spencer, in his fifteenth }7ear. He wTas a
lad of much promise and was greatly lamented by his
associates.

My friend J T had recently buried his

wife, followed by a son and two lovely daughters just
blooming into man and womanhood, and now hearing
that another son was dying in Cincinnati, he asked me
to bear him company in making this son a visit.

As the great railroads wrere not then made and the
vexatious modes of travel only forty-eight years ago
having passed into history, a note of them may be
worth preserving. %

Fourth month 22d, at ten o'clock A. M., we took car
at Parksburg for Harrisburg, thence by canal to

50 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

Hollidaysburg, by Portage Railroad to Johnstown, by
canal to Pittsburg, where we arrived at nine P. M. of
the 25th in three days and eleven hours.

Fourth month 26th, at an early hour all the down-
river boats had steam up and were hurrying passengers
and freight on board for an early passage. These once
secured the fires were extinguished, to be repeated per-
haps the next day. One boat, the Wm. Penn, did show
signs of starting and we went on board at ten o'clock.
Stopped at Wellsville for wood ; reached Wheeling at
nine P. M. ; stopped all night for morning freight.
Fourth month 27th, left at 9.30 A. M. Stopped for
wood at Manningsville ; at noon our pumps gave out ;
ran aground in the night ; reached Marietta at 7.30
P. M. Fourth month 28th, wooded at Wyandot at 9
A. M. ; at noon stopped at ; at 1.30 at Ports-
mouth ; at six P. M. reached Concord, Ky. ; at eight
stopped at Marysville, and at four A. M., Fourth
month 29th, arrived at the city of the West, just one
week from our home to our destination.

The young man on wThose behalf we had taken the
journey, had died nearly a week before and the body
lay in a dead-house in the grave-yard awaiting the
arrival of some member of the family. We buried it
next da}7- and with a heavy heart the father returned to
his home.

In 1840 I was elected a correspondent of the Academy
of Natural Sciences — an outgrowth of the little Cabinet
of Science of 18 15.

I had for several months suffered pain in the right
hip joint, which gradually increased until I became
satisfied of its serious character and decided that the
time had fully come for treatment. After riding all

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 51

day and taking leave of a number of patients, I went to
bed for an uncertain period. I pursued a very severe
local treatment ; a blister every three or four days,
using mercurial ointment and iodine, (the iodide of
mercury) for a dressing. This was rigidly used for
six weeks while lying in bed. I then got up but did
not attempt to walk without, crutches for six months
after. It is now more than forty years and there has
not been any return of the disease ; the treatment was a
success. When my age, forty-seven years, and the
length of time the trouble had been progressing are con-
sidered, the prospect of success was by no means flatter-
ing. The treatment may have been unique, it cer-
tainly was severe, and to this or to both combined I
attribute my recovery.

The autumn of 1842 and the following winter were
quite sickly and a number of deaths occurred in the
country around. My dear wife was among the victims.
She died the 21st of First month, 1843. So many have
failed to describe the privation and loss of the wife and
mother that I need not attempt it.

Scarcely had the remains of my dear companion
found a resting place, when I was prostrated with the
same disease. For three weeks my case caused my
kind friend, Dr. Pennock, much anxiety. When I had
been ill about ten days I suffered so much from a feel-
ing of weight and oppression during the night that I
requested the Doctor next morning to bleed me ; but
he hesitated. The same feelings returned the following
night and I decided to bleed myself, my attendants
holding me up the while. I took from twelve to fifteen
ounces, with decided relief to the lungs and heart.

Convalescence came slowly, and the weather being

52 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

rough I staid long in my room. During that deten-
tion I re-arranged and indexed a herbarium of more
than a thousand species of plants. When at length I
was able to ride out and even visit patients, it was a
long time before I could get into my carriage from
the level ground.

During the summer I took a trip into New Jersey in
company with my son Ellwood, Jeremiah Starr and
Jacob Heald. I collected many plants of Jersey ex-
traction and a fine suit of marl fossils. My health was
very much improved and we had the opportunity,
going and returning, to see the destruction caused by
the great Delaware County flood a few days before.

While absent from home and sojourning with kind
and sympathizing friends, the burden of loneliness was
in a measure lifted off my spirit only to press more
heavily on my return.

While I cordially approve of the advices of our ex-
cellent discipline on the subject of marriage, I had
often said that we naturally most desire to repair the loss
which we feel to be the greatest. This perhaps applies
to other objects as a general principle, but is especially
applicable to the loss of a congenial and loving hus-
band or wife. Believing so, I early sought in this way
to promote my own comfort and that of my family.

It was a surprise to some of my friends when I thus
early requested a certificate of the monthly meeting in
order for marriage with Mary S. Walton of L,ondon
Grove. We were married on the 9th of the Fifth month,
1844, with the approbation of our friends.

A short time sufficed to make the necessary arrange-
ments for Mary's removal to the new home, and the
assumption of new and more responsible duties which

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 53

she has been enabled to perform to the satisfaction of
all concerned.

On the 20th inst. we started on a visit to our
brother, Isaac Walton and family, New York ; to
Niagara and to our brother, Charles Waterman and
family, near Mt. Pleasant, Ohio.

We arrived at I. Walton's late in the day and just as
a nice wedding party were sitting down to marry
themselves by Friends' ceremony. The proceedings
were suspended and we were given just ten minutes to
adjust our toilets for the guest chamber. The parties
were Solomon Jenner, a widower, and Margaret
Webster, a widow. We made our entre as best we
might in due season and the knot was soon tied. At
the table Mary and I were requested to act as brides-
maid and groomsman. The company soon left, and
after an evening's chat the two brides modestly with-
drew to their respective chambers ; but by a singular
error loci, I w7as inducted into Margaret's room —
brother Isaac being my guide — while Solomon wTas in
due time to go to Mary's apartment. It was an amus-
ing incident, though a little hard to work out, and caused
a hearty laugh.

On the 24th we wrent to Troy ; next day to
Schenectady, and at nine o'clock left on the canal boat
for the West.

Between Utica and Syracuse, a gentleman wrho had
proved himself an agreeable traveling companion,
inquired the belief of Elias Hicks in respect to the atone-
ment. I told him I was not an expounder of E. Hicks'
views, but would answer any direct questions as well as
I could. His first query was : ' ' Does he believe in
the atonement ? " I replied yes, but possibly not as

54 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

thee does ; let me ask if thee believes in the personal
suffering, the carnal bloodshed and the death of Jesus
on the cross as an atonement for the sins of all man-
kind ? God's plan for the redemption of sinners?
That was his belief, certainly. I replied that according
to my thought E. Hicks did not believe just that way.
If he did, / do not. My companion looked surprised.
I then asked, was the crucifixion of Jesus a good or
wicked act? " Very wicked," he replied. Were those
who crucified him good or wicked men ? Again he
answered, " Very wicked. " Then it follows that the
plan of salvation embraces wicked men and wicked
actions. Now tell me seriously if there had not been
found men bad enough to do that wicked act, would
the plan of God's salvation have failed for want of evil
men? After remaining silent for a moment, he said,
' * That is a new idea ; I must take time to think about
it."

On our homeward journey, after leaving Pittsburg, we
were favored with the company of a gentleman from
Mobile, his wife, her sister, two children and their
nurse, a slave. The boat was crowded. At dinner, I
seated Mary and was about to take my seat beside her,
when the Mobelian told his wife to sit there, observing
that she wished to sit opposite her sister, and at the
same time making arrangements to take the next seat.
I quietly moved over to the next seat myself, thus
separating him from his wife as he had separated me
from mine. It was afterward discovered that the sister
was deaf and dumb ; but he had not the courtesy to say
so at the time. At night the Captain put up an extra
curtain, giving this family a private room of six berths
and twice as much cabin room as they could occupy, while

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 55

the men had not room even to lie on the floor. After
crossing the mountains they claimed the same privilege,
but the Captain not being a slaveocrat, refused, saying
the women must go to their own apartment. They
persisted and demurred until the men had filled the
berths and the floor too. It was not until positively com-
manded to do so that they obeyed, and disposed of them-
selves as they best could, by which time there was no
room for intruders — nor pity either. It was a law of
the line that passengers should have choice of berths in
the order of their entrance, but this rule had not been
observed in the women's cabin. The Captain said that
if the ladies required it the women would all have to
get up and allow them to exercise their equal choice.
When he was about to read the ' ' riot act ' ' in the cabin
the ladies began to feel their true position and order
was restored.

On our return from Ohio, Mary's sister, Rebecca
Waterman, accompanied us to visit the friends and
scenes of early life from which she had long been
separated.

In 1846, second of Ninth month, in company with
Wm. E. Bailey and several other friends, I left home for
Baltimore, thence to Norfolk and so by James River
to Petersburg, Richmond, etc.

At Norfolk we were transferred to the Curtis Packet
for Richmond. Soon after passing the desolate site of
old Jamestown, we were called aft to partake of Virginia
hospitality in the form of lunch, which was tastefully
served up on old boxes, barrels and a pile of wood, and
consisted of stale bread and cold ham. It was placed
here contiguous to the bar, no doubt for the bar's sake ;
the cold water was quite at the other end of the boat.

56 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

My main object in this journey was to become ac-
quainted with slavery and slave-holders, and one of the
passengers, a resident of Norfolk, soon attracted my at-
tention and I sought an acquaintance.

An opportunity soon offered as together we viewed
the ruins of Jamestown. I queried why it had lain so
long in a comparatively desolate condition and asked
if slavery had anything to do with it. He made a
courteous and careful reply ; indeed his whole manner
bespoke an able and willing advocate of slavery, and
my further experience enables me to add that he was as
willing to hear as to be heard.

I told him that my education was opposed to slavey,
my observations and reflections condemned it as sinful
and my religious convictions, so far as I had any, pro-
hibited it. He took the position that it was instituted
by Providence for wise and beneficent purposes, that it
had been and would continue to be a great blessing to
this country and to Africa. Here was a wide difference
to be reconciled. It was to him a one-sided question ;
he had never looked into the other scale, yet he mani-
fested the utmost urbanity throughout. On several
occasions when he felt that he was fairly met, he would
say, "Well, you have the best of the argument," and
would abandon that point only to raise another. On
one occasion he said, " Well, gentlemen, the best argu-
ment I ever heard in support of slavery was that of
Mr. McDuffy ; he said that it was a wise ordination of
Providence to place the most docile people in the servile
class, to be hewers of wood and drawers of water. ' ' I
replied that was no argument at all ; that I did not
believe the assertion that Providence ever ordained such
a thing. " Well," he said, " it is not an argument."

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 57

I gave him a slap on the shoulder, saying, it is ac-
knowledging a good deal for an advocate of slavery to
admit that to be the best argument he ever heard, for it
was no argument at all. This was received courteously.
To various charges he wrould admit that there were
objections to the system of slavery, while there could be
none to our system. When reminded of the deteriora-
tion of his native State, the impolicy of slavery, he said,
"I will not attempt to argue that."

At City Point the novelty train was waiting to carry
us to Petersburg. When drawing up it looked the pro-
genitor of all railroads. The road was rickety, the
engine was rickety, the car was rickety and the
engineer was rickety — an old man who had no doubt
been a slave for seventy years and who served as engi-
neer, conductor and sole manager. With this outfit we
were only one hour in running the whole distance of
twelve miles, notwithstanding the driver had to stop
and pull down bars whenever they chanced to be up,
for in those days the herders used poles to prevent their
stock trespassing.

Arriving at our destination, we left our baggage at
the Bollingbrook Hotel and went out for a stroll. At
eventide we returned and sat down in the well-filled
bar-room to observe men and manners. Ourselves
being " the observed of all observers." Very soon our
friend from Norfolk came in. He gave us a hearty re-
cognition, introduced us to a number of his friends and
sat down. He at once renewed the discussion of the
morning which was continued to a late hour. We
found ourselves in the bar-room of a leading hotel,
right in the focus of Virginia slavery, publicly discuss-
ing the question with more than twenty eager listeners

58 AUTOGRAPHIC AI< NOTES.

standing around us for more than an hour without the
least evidence of undue excitement.

On the morrow our friend would not leave until
he had found all of our party, given us a hearty shake
of the hand and a cordial invitation to return by way of
Norfolk and spend a few days with him.

We were next introduced to our excellent friend Dr.

, who was keenly alive to the amelioration of

the evils of slavery and its accomplishment by the
introduction of Northern farmers and farm methods ;
but he could not extricate himself from its toils. We
rode together in his carriage for the greater part of two
days. He had seventeen slaves on two hundred acres of
land, besides several sons and daughters. He did not
excuse the sale of human chattels, but asked how it
was possible for him to avoid it. Farms for sale were
abundant and seemed cheap at five and seven dollars
per acre ; but, I said, if we come here we shall expect
to do our own farm work. Our wives and daughters
would carry the garden and farm products to market ;
would you meet us on equal ground ? Would your
wives and daughters recognize ours in the markets and
elsewhere? He promptly replied, "The}' ought to do
so." Yes, but would they do it ? We cannot bring
our families here and degrade them to a level with your
laboring class. He said he had often advised his sons
to choose Northern women for wives. I asked him if
I could advise my sons to choose Southern women for
wives ; would the plan work equally well both ways ?
I had alluded to the general demoralization of masters
and slaves, when he turned to me with tears trickling
down his cheeks and said: "Dr. Michettar, the re-
sponsibility which I feel for my slaves is too heavy for

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 59

any human being to bear ; yet I am glad it is so, and I
would not lift a straw of the burden if I might. Every
wrong requires suffering for its amendment and slavery
is not an exception."

After my return we carried on a lengthy and earnest
correspondence bearing upon the great question until,
I think, the time of his death. The Petersburg Intelli-
gencer, dated September 24th, 1846, during our visit,
made this declaration. "A Quaker farmer and a
thrifty industrious man have become almost synony-
mous. Neatness, sobriety, industry and thrift seem to
follow the Friends wherever they go, and we know of
no people who could do more for this part of Virginia."

At Petersburg I obtained a portfolio and papers which
I soon found use for, but the collecting and drying of
plants under proper pressure while travelling is a little
troublesome. My plan was, at bed time, to change them
into dr}^ papers, strew the damp ones about the room
to dry and then slip the portfolio between the sacking
and bed just under my more weighty bed-fellow, Wm.
E. Bailey, a pretty good improvised botanical press.
From the Doctor's farm I collected and sent home
many fine marl fossils. At the Appomattox bridge we
saw the celebrated Pocahontas Wash-bowl, a large
stone made concave probably by the action of the water
in the manner of what are called pot-holes, common
where a strong current flows over a soft rocky bed as
we see at Richmond.

Bidding farewell to our kind friends, we took passage
in a shanty train for Richmond, a distance of twenty-
one miles. In that short distance the iron horse kicked
loose three times and ran off, leaving us standing on the
track. The last time it left us on the high and

60 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

splendid bridge over the James River, affording us a
most delightful view of that noble stream and of the
city of seven hills.

We put up at the Powhattan House, to which I had
been recommended by a young man who gave us an
introduction to the kind and courteous proprietor.

On the 26th of Ninth month we visited Asa Janney,
where he is employed as head miller at a salary of
one thousand dollars. The mill is eight stories high on
one side and runs twenty-four pairs of seven feet
burrs with a capacity of 2500 bushels of wheat in twenty-
four hours, and has reached 125,000 barrels of flour in
a year. It is driven by three over- shot wheels, 32 feet
high and 13 feet wide. It stands directly across the
James River canal, the water of which falls over the
wheels 80 feet to the tide water at the foot of the cliff.

We also called on Henry W. Moncure, a wealthy
merchant and proprietor of Montpelier, the residence of
the late President Madison. He was desirous we
should visit it and proffered his compairy. We found
mechanics fitting up the mansion at a cost of from 4000
to 5000 dollars. The estate contains 1750 acres, mostly
of excellent quality. We had many offers, say 16
dollars per acre, with farming utensils, stock, crops, in-
cluding 2000 bushels of wheat on the floor, 3000 to
4000 bushels of corn and a large crop of tobacco ; every-
thing except the negroes — of whom there were seven-
teen—these of course were slaves. Friend Moncure
greatly desired to open Virginia to a different class of
people, and told an acquaintance on the cars that he
hoped to induce us to form a settlement at Montpelier
and thus introduce a better element into the popula-
tion. His friend replied, "Well, sir, if you will do

KZRA MICHENER, M. D. 6l

that, I will erect a monument to your memory as a
public benefactor of the State of Virginia." Such was
the character of our welcome everywhere. That it was
sincere is shown by the fact that he accompanied us
seventy-seven miles, spent two whole days in exhibiting
the property and after making us five various conditions,
returned home just on the eve of his daughter's wed-
ding. I am satisfied that he would have sold it to us for
$5000 less than he would to a Virginian. It was hard
to resist the solicitations of so good a man, but oh, that
slavery !

I had a long and interesting talk with several slave-
holders near the close of our visit in which I spoke of
the intelligence, enterprise and moral wrorth of our
colored people at the North. One of my listeners
quickly replied, "They are some of our runaways;
whenever a slave becomes a little better informed he is
sure to run away. Our runaways are alwa}7s our
best and most valuable servants." I assured them that
we had many free-born colored people and added : It
appears that }^ou must first degrade and imbrute the
man before he can be held a slave. I queried with
them if there was no plan by which this inclination to
run away might be removed. They had never known
such a plan, but would like to see it. I said I would
suggest one : Suppose I buy 200 acres of }^our land
with three or four families of slaves on it. On calling
them together I would say, " Now, boys, I cannot keep
you as slaves, but I need your work and you need a
place to live and a means of living. I will set you free.
You must now work like good boys and I will pay you
for each day's work ; this will enable you to support
your own families. To do so you will have to save
your earnings, live sober, industrious lives and send

62 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

your children to school. You are free and must live
like freemen." Now, I asked, would these men run
away from me ? The reply was, ! ' No, they would
not have any inducement to do so." Again I ques-
tion, would not any one of them perform as much
work as any three of your slaves ? The answer was,
"Probably they would." Would not the cost in
wages be much less than the capital invested and the
maintenance of so many old, very 3^oung and sick
slaves ? To this there was an emphatic ' ' No doubt of
that." Then, I replied, let every slave-holder in
Virginia try the experiment. Notwithstanding this
liberality toward our views, there was a universal feel-
ing of repugnance to liberation without colonization.

CORRESPONDENCE AND ESSAYS.

New Garden, Fifth of 11th Month, 1860.

SCHOOLFIELD & Co. :

Your neat circular with the "magnificent scheme," was duly
received. Like other men, I appreciate favors coming from
strangers and unsolicited ; but it exceeds my comprehension why
you should have singled me out, and made me the special re-
cipient of your favor, even to the small amount of $156,000. A
little investigation, however, shows that what purported to be a
private and special offer, was a stereotyped circular which had
been addressed to thousands of other persons, making them each
the same offer which very few, perhaps only one, could realize.
It was indeed a lottery.

This led me to examine the "magnificent scheme," and to
cipher a little.

The tickets at $20.00 would amount to §1,527,520

The prizes amount to 1,171,950

Loss, 355,570

To which add 15 per cent. 58,597 and we have

cash lost by the purchase, $414,167

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 63

This gave me to understand why you would rather sell than
buy. They cost nearly half a million more than they are worth ;
it also shows the source and the baseness of jour generosity, and
the reason why. as you say, " There exists a strong feeling in the
State, etc," and you might have added, ;> In all other States." If
so inany persons would each purchase a ticket, the aggregate
loss would be just the same, while it' equally divided, each one
would lose $5.44 ; but the holders of the 41,664 blanks would not re-
ceive anything, and many of the prizes would not return half the
cost of the ticket. You ostensibly address me as an " influential
person," and ask my influence to overcome the prejudice against
lotteries. You write so to all. You may often mistake your man ;
this is your lottery. If you draw a blank, it is little lost, but if
you find one who does not comprehend your iC magnificent
scheme," one not accustomed to count the cost, one who does not
scruple to take unjust gains, more especially one whose finances
are already desperate, you will perhaps draw a prize. This is
your hope. These are the victims whom you are plundering of
their scanty means. It is a game which you understand and they
do not, hence they continually play into your pockets.

You solicit my influence. It is freely given ; not to remove,
but to strengthen and increase the " strong feeling which exists "
in this State and elsewhere against lotteries.

Lottery gambling is a nefarious business, conceived in deception
and nurtured by robbery. Its managers hold, absolute control
over it. Can we have any assurance that the scheme would be
fairly and honestly carried out for the interest of the ticket holder,
in such a concern and by such men ? I think not.

"Wealth thus suddenly acquired is often more disastrous than a
blank. I knew, for example, an industrious and thrifty mechanic,
the husband of a noble woman and the father of five lovely and
promising children. In an evil hour he was induced to buy a
lottery ticket which unfortunately turned out a prize. Business
was soon followed by idleness and idleness by dissipation. His
house became the resort of his unprofitable companions and his
money was rapidly wasted. In this particular case the full measure
of disastrous results was meted out. The man retired at a late
hour after a debauch, to be awakened by the crackling flames.

64 ATJTOGRAPHICAI, XOTKS.

His wife and two children were, with difficulty, rescued from the
burning building, the other three perished. The morning found
him destitute of everything he had possessed, with not even a suit
of clothes for one of his family.

The preceding letter was sent to a Wilmington daily
paper, and from it copied by others. Soon after I re-
ceived the following ' ' greeting ' ' from an honest old
German :

East Vincent, Chester Co., Dec. 20, 1860.

Unknown Friend : — So I call you on account of your plainly
committed to writing expose of the character of those lottery
gamblers. I should like to picture them and warn the commun-
ity at large to he aware of the clandestine robbers. I had three of
such like letters, and when I showed the last one to my son-in-
law, he told me he had two or three likewise. I then said if they
would promise me twenty times as much, it would be no induce-
ment to me to lead others to be robbed of their money. It is an
old German saying that a burned child dreads the fire. In the
year 1797, I had three tickets of the Grand Union Canal Lottery at
ten dollars apiece, and in the summer of 1799, having occasion to
be in Philadelphia for a few days, I called at the lottery office on
Chestnut street to see what my tickets had drawn. A fee of
twenty-five cents was demanded of me (on each ticket) and I paid
it. Then I was told that each had drawn twenty-five cents, but
they kept that also.

Friend, as I had to call you, because in your description of the
lottery gamblers you possess honesty and seem not ashamed to
publish your opinion, if I were given to use such language, I
should write a great deal concerning unjust dealings and likewise
publishing untruths. But when at times I write to publishers to
correct their untruths, I generally come out so flat on them that
they get angry, and when they do sometimes say for me something,
they put it in such shape — much hindmost foremost — that none
would know what I would say.

What a prosperous country we should have if each inhabitant
would observe the few following words : Why should I deprive
mv neighbor of his goods against his will ?

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 65

Hauds are made for honest toil, but not to plunder or to steal.
If that had been strictly observed these many years, according to
the Golden A, B, C, our country would not be at this time in such
revolutionary discomposure.

Consider for a moment, if we take to the natural law, so I will
call it, which Moses of old received from the owner of all, and
which he gave to his brother Aaron — which order he obeyed and
it was transferred to us— but a Yankee steps in and reverses all
law and order. It is a natural fact to everybody, that if he buys
anything and pays for it, that makes him the sole owner of it and
he may take it where he will ; but the Yankee says, " I have had
possession so and so many years, and on that account it is mine
whether you paid for it or not." I must stop writing for this
time, only to remark yet, that if your dealings are in all respects
so Christian-like as that appeared on which head I took my pen,
and you desire a more explicit explanation, then please drop a few
lines on the subject and I will be ready to answer the same.
Kespectfaliy, etc., Yours,

Feedeeick Setjdee.

Note. — I did not "drop the few lines," but. have been favored
with three supplements to the above, treating of capital punish-
ment, law and order, and on the subject of relief for sufferers in
Kansas.

In i860, I published my Retrospect of Early Quaker-
ism. It was my purpose :

First, to collect and preserve a brief history of the
meetings, composing the Yearly Meeting of Philadel-
phia.

Second, to illustrate the principles and to trace the
development and practical working of our discipline.

Third, more especially to trace the progress of the
testimonies of the Society for the maintenance of peace,
the abolition of slavery and the promotion of temper-
ance.

The title of the book, was not of my choosing,
but was accepted in deference to kind friends.

66 ATJTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

My most excellent friend and father, Samuel Com-
fort, seems not to have fully embraced the idea that was
intended to be expressed, as will appear from the
following friendly note :

Neae Moeeisville, Bucks Co., Pa.,

Fifth Mo. 7th, 1860.
Esteemed Feiend Ezea Michenee :

I have read with, much interest the Ketrospect of Early Quaker-
ism. It must have been a laborious work, requiring much time
and close attention, and will doubtless be useful and interesting to
many members of Society, and others who have the privilege of
reading it.

The map of all the meetings belonging to the Yearly Meeting is
new to me, with their bearings and distances, and its construction
must have been an arduous work. I believe thou art entitled to
much credit for the valuable collection thou has made on various
subjects that have been the concern of Friends and meetings from
time to time ; yet there is one word which I regret to find stand-
ing where it does on the subject of visiting families ; page 210 —
the word licentious. Should another edition be called for, do leave
it out. I would not make thee an offender for a word. It does
not seem to me that a licentious person could be qualified
" profitably to admonish others." The word must have slipped in
without due consideration.

Samuel Comfoet.

The object of religious association is the mutual aid
and encouragement one of another. Great as are the
advantages of the upright, the strong in faith, the clean-
handed, yet the halt and lame, the doubting, even the
vicious may admonish and instruct each other. They
can and sometimes do testify to the error of their ways
from their own experience, and may be listened to by
those who would turn away from the clean-handed.

KZRA MICHKNKK, M. D. 67

Rooms of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences,

Buffalo, Jan. 7th, 1867.

EZEA MlCHENER, ESQ.,

Avondale, Pa.
The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, desirous of possessing the
likenesses of its honorary and corresponding members, respect-
fully asks that you will make it the recipient of your own. A
photograph in carte 'de visite form is most desirable. Such a
donation will be highly prized by the society, and I hope soon to
have the pleasure of acknowledging its receipt.
Yours very respectfully,

Chas. D. Marshall,

Corresponding Secretary.

PEESIDENT U. S. GRANT AND THE INDIANS.

God in his infinite wisdom and goodness, and in loving mercy,
not only to the poor persecuted red man, but to the more wicked,
persecuting white man also, having in his own good time been
pleased to put it into the heart of Ulysses S. Grant, himself a
warrior by profession, and, as President, Commander-in-chief of
the Army and Navy, the whole military power of this great nation,
to substitute love for force, the benevolence of the gospel for
rapine and murder as a means of civilizing the Indians, he yet
found it difficult, surrouncled as he was by military experts, who
had for a long time reaped a rich harvest from the proverbial
Indian wars, to inaugurate any plan for the accomplishment of his
benevolent purpose. The distributive agency of the Indian
Bureau was in the hands of unprincipled men who managed to
appropriate large portions of the Indian appropriations to their
own use. The vexation, the want, the suffering thus inflicted
upon the poor Indians, often prompted them to retaliate by some
act of open or secret violence ; when the hue and cry of Indian
hostilities would be immediately raised and the military power
called into requisition. How, then, did the President accomplish
the herculean task of cleansing this augean stable of fraud and
blood and murder? Why, just as others have accomplished great
and good ends, by the exercise of common sense, and an observ-
ance of the leadings and pointings of the*finger of Providence,
who is ever seeking to conduct the willing and obedient soul in
the way of its high and holy destiny.

68 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

In looking round for historical precedents, the eyes of the
executive soon rested on the kind, equitable and pacific policy of
Wm. Penn toward the Indians, with its happy and enduring
results. The query naturally arose, if the just and equitable
intentions of Win. Penn, when fully carried out, had secured the
lasting confidence and friendship of the Indian without resort to
compulsion, why might not the same policy, on the part of the
Government, secure the same happy results? He resolved to
make the trial. But to whom shall such an important duty be
assigned ? If a pacific policy was to be inaugurated, it must be
transferred from the military to the civil department. It must be
placed in the hands of men possessed of pacific principles to ensure
a faithful and successful execution of the plan.

Knowing as he well did, the various religious sentiments and
practices prevalent among the people, his hopes centered upon the
descendants of Wm. Penn and his co-adjutors, who still adhere to*
the same principles, and who possess more of the Indians' confidence
than any other class of our citizens. Who so likely to properly
introduce the policy of Penn and to maintain it, as the fellow
professors of Perm ? It was determined the trial should be made.
Calling to his aid a few confidential members of our Society,
the plau was matured and proposals issued, which were promptly re-
sponded to by Friends, and resulted in the assignment of two
superintendencies to the care of our Society — one to us and one
to Orthodox Friends, so called.

Encouraged by the success of two years' experiment, the Presi-
dent has recently extended the same invitation to other religious
denominations. The various Indian tribes are divided into
agencies and each of these is provided with a resident agent.
Several of these agencies are then included in one superintendency :
the whole placed under the direction and supervision of a resident
superintendent .

The Yearly Meetings of Philadelphia, Xew York, Baltimore,
Ohio, Indiana and Genessee, have all acceded to the plan proposed,
and have distributed the charge in a somewhat similar manner ;
thus they have appointed a joint committee of all the meetings to
exercise a general direction of the concern, but each agency is
placed directly under the care and management of some one of the
Yearly Meetings.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 69

In the execution of these extraordinary measures for the
amelioration of the hapless condition of the Red Men, there were
found religiously concerned and devoted Friends who felt that it
was required of them to lay the comforts of home and of civilized
life upon the altar of benevolence ; to accept a situation of suffer-
ing, of labor, of peril as instructors and exemplars of their poor
and uncivilized brethren.

Xow I have given this hasty review of the situation in order to
impress upon you the imperious duty resting upon us as members
of our Religious Society, to encourage and sustain those devoted
heralds of humanity, by our sympathy and our means, to furnish
them out of our abundance, with the one thing needful to carry on
the glorious work to which they have been called.

The African, the Indian, outcasts of whatever nation or color,
liave ever been accepted as wards of the religious Society of Friends.
The field now open before us is of unlimited extent, and affords
promise of extraordinary results. My anxious concern is, that we
may be found equal to the occasion, and willing to meet all its re-
quirements. Let not any attempt to excuse themselves by say-
ing that the Yearly Meeting has assumed the responsibility. A
Yearly Meeting cannot have an existence apart from its mem-
bers. They are, and they only, are the Yearly Meeting, and the
responsibilities of the body rest with proportional weight upon
every one of its members. In the rendering of this responsibility,
it must not be forgotten that the Widow's Mite will be as accepta-
ble in the sight of God as the abundance of the wealthy.

E. Michexer.

Philadelphia, Eleventh Mo. 19, 1871.
Esteemed Feiexd :

Our beloved friend Samuel M. Janney, who has returned safely
from his mission in Xebraska, attended Baltimore Yearly Meeting,
and in the meeting of delegates from the six Yearly Meetings,
informed that he was making up his report to the department at
Washington and desired to know the amount contributed by
Friends to this cause during the whole of his superintendency.
This can only be ascertained by application to each of the Indian
Aids. You, therefore, are requested to state the value not only of
what you sent to this city to be forwarded, but also of anything
you may have sent direct to the agencies.

Deborah F. Wharton.

70 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

Twenty-Fifth of 11th Mo., 1871.
D. F. Wharton.
Dear Friend : — Our Indian Aid Society, in 1870, contributed in

money, $174.75

New garments, 343, 40.50

Worn clothing,

.

.

25.00

Garden seeds,

5.00

$245.25

In 1871.

Money,

.

.

$114.70

New garments, 77,

.

.

15.40

Worn clothing,

.

.

20.00

Garden seeds,

.

•

5.00

155.10

Freight,

•

•

5.00

160.10

(1870)

245.25

Whole amount, ..... $405.35

It is believed that this amount might have been raised to $500.00.

E. Michenek.

THE ANTI-DIEUVIAN AND POST-DILUVIAN
AGES.

" The days of our years are three score years and ten. Or even
by reason of streugth, four score years, yet is their pride but labour
and sorrow." Psalms XC, 10.

I have this day completed my four score years, and
consequently have attained thereto, through labor, and
sorrow ; and feel that I am standing on the distal verge
of human life. Yet, when I read the early history of
our race, from Creation down to the Deluge, I find that
I have not yet reached the tenth part of the patriarchal
ages.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 7 1

To the biblical student, the extreme longevity of our
earty progenitors, and its sudden and remarkable
reduction after the Flood, opens an interesting and
instructive field for inquiry. He will, naturally, seek
for some cause or condition which led to this extreme
change in the physical relations of the race, but he
will look in vain. Revelation has not furnished and
reason cannot furnish an explanation.

The hypothesis has indeed been advanced, that this
primeval longevity was granted them in order that in
obedience to the command given them they might Be
fruitful, a?id multiply, and replenish the earth. But
there are serious objections to this seemingly plausible
explanation.

i st. On the supposition here given, we should expect
the early and continued exercise of paternity. But, if we
except the births of Cain and Abel, both of whom soon
dropped out of the category, Adam does not appear to
have exercised his paternal faculties for the first hun-
dred and thirty years of his life. The same retardation
of paternity occurs in the notices of all the other patri-
archs down to Noah. Tabulated, it stands thus :

Adam,

130 years.

Seth,

105 years.

Enos,

90 "

Cainan,

70 "

Mahalaleel.

65 "

Jared,

162 "

Enoch,

65 "

Methuselah,

187 •'

Lamech,

182 "

Noah,

500 "

Shem,

100 "

2nd. After the occurrence of the Deluge, and the
depopulation of the earth, the longevity of the people
was suddenly reduced to less than one-fourth of its
former duration ; }^et it must be remembered that the
same necessity existed, and the same command was

72 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

reissued to Noah, as had been given to Adam, in the
beginning : "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish

the earth/ '

Compare the J

following with the preceding

table :

Arphaxad,

35 403 438

Selah,

30 403 433

Eber,

34 430 464

Peleg,

30 209 239

Rue,

32 207 239

Serug,

39 191 230

Nahor,

29 119 148

Terah,

70 135 205

Abram,

100 75 175

Isaac,

60 128 188

Jacob,

65 82 147

From a careful review of the genealogy of the patri-
archial ages, as they are rendered by the author of the
Pentateuch, it seems quite probable that he intended it
to embrace a more comprehensive and profound signi-
fication than the literal meaning of the language conveys.

The language of the historian abounds in tropes and
figures. Indeed, the whole history of the creation is
one grand and instructive figure from the beginning to
the end.

' ' In the beginning God created the heavens and the
earth. And the earth was without form and void, and
darkness was upon the face of the deep." This terse
phrase has no immediate relation to the Creation which
Moses was about to describe. It refers us away back
beyond all those numerous, and enormous, geological
periods of time which the science of geology has
brought into view, and ought to constitute a distinct
and separate chapter in the earth's history, with a
broad hiatus between it and the .first day of creation,
which follows :

The six days of creation, as subsequently recorded,
should not be understood as having any direct chro-
nological connection with the beginning ; nor should

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 73

they be accepted literally as days. They were obvi-
ously intended to represent those successive geological
periods and their physical changes, which, in the
Divine progress, were modifying and preparing the
earth for the habitation of his creatures, beginning with
the lower orders and ascending, gradatum, up to man.

If we apply the same rule of interpretation to the
chronology of the patriarchs, we may perhaps discover
that instead of so many long lived individuals, their
names more properly represent particular tribes or
hordes, which may have retained the names of their
original patriarchs, or chiefs, long after they were
dead. The pastoral mode of living — which perhaps
always precedes the agricultural, and which, in the
present instance, seems to have been continued down to
the entrance of the Israelites into Egypt — accords well
with the patriarchal state and condition, which I have
suggested.

The following diagram, embracing a view of the
wThole subject, is drawn on a proportional scale of four
hundred years to the inch. From it we will draw our
illustration.

Thus the first tribe, Adam, commenced at Creation
and continued on increasing in numbers from his
descendants, for one hundred and thirty years — say the
sixth or higher generation. The name Adam, being
less personal than a family name, was properly applied
to the whole company as a tribe. KX. the end of the
one hundred and thirty years the tribe having grown
too numerous for the convenience of nomadic life, one
of Adam's sons — no matter whether he was the third
or the thirtieth — separated a company or tribe, under
his own name, Seth. The tribe, Adam, still continuing

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74 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

on, and giving off other tribes from time to time, until
it was finally broken up or dispersed, at the end of nine
hundred and thirty years.

The history of the successive tribes of Enos, Cainanr
Mahalaleel, etc., etc., down to that of Jacob, would be
only a repetition of those already mentioned, and need
not be particularized.

It must, however, be remembered, that the historian
has given us only the names of those tribes whose chiefs
fell in the lineal descent from Adam to Jesus ; but
numerous other tribes would necessarily separate from
the parent stems as years and centuries rolled on.

The annexed table is drawn on a proportionate scale
of four hundred years to an inch.

ELECTRICITY.

Unhappily, only a few persons, comparatively speak-
ing, have had the opportunity to become acquainted
with scientific electricit3T, and consequently do not
very clearly comprehend either the theoretical use or
the practical construction of the lightning-rod. The
want of this knowledge has left them exposed to the
artifices of those unscrupulous charletans, the itinerant
lightning-rod man, who is too often ready to perpe-
trate the grossest impositions on their unsuspecting or
too credulous victims.

The purpose of this essay is to furnish the reader
with such fixed and determined facts and principles
and such rational deductions therefrom as will not only
enable him to detect the fraudulent devices of the
mountebank, but also to determine what kind of a rod
is most proper and to superintend its construction in his
own way, at a tithe of the cost of some patent absurdity.

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 75

A thunder-storm, in its intensity, is certainly one of
the most awfully grand, one of the most beautifully
sublime, and withal, one of the most terrific scenes
which the eye can witness or the mind contemplate.
The prime agent in its production is electricity.
Of the intrinsic nature of this sublime and mysterious
agent we absolutely know nothing.

Of its properties as manifested to our senses, and of
the laws which regulate and control its forces, we
possess only a limited and imperfect knowledge. It is
not intended in this essay to pursue the inquiry any
further than is necessary to afford a clear comprehen-
sion of the proper construction and the modus-operandi
of the lightning-rod.

We must not, indeed we cannot, ignore the fact that
there have been two rival theories devised in relation to
the electrical force, whatever it may be. Two modes
of explaining the phenomena which it presents.

Professor Tyndall says : ' ! Franklin devised the theory
of a single electric fluid. This fluid he supposed to be
self-repulsive and diffused in definite quantities through
all bodies. He supposed that when a body has more
than its proper share, it is positively, and when less
than its proper share, it is negatively electrified..
Symmer devised the theory of two electric fluids, each
self- repulsive and both mutually attractive. All bodies
in a natural state, possessing both fluids in equal quan-
tities, as long as the fluids are mixed together, they
neutralize each other. The terms positive and nega-
tive, with the signs + and — , as adopted by Franklin „
were indicative of the excess and deficiency of the
electricity ; but the advocates of the duplex theory
have, strangely enough, adopted the same names for their

76 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

two electricities instead of the more appropriate ones,
vitrious and resinous.

The theory of a single fluid while it is both Frank-
linian and American, is more simple and easily com-
prehended. I shall therefore accept it on this occasion,
without deciding whether the more elaborate investiga-
tions of the scientist will require its final rejection.

Electricity, electric fluid, electric force, etc., may, in
this connection, be conveniently considered as one of
the primary forms of matter, co-ordinate with its
congeners, caloric and light, and like them, capable of
existing either in a latent and quiescent form or in an
active state, cognizable by the senses.

Electricity attracts and is attracted by all material
substances, but its own particles mutually and power-
fully repel each other.

Electricity, more or less, freely traverses the surface
of some forms of matter — the metals and moist sub-
stances generally — which are thence called conductors of
electricity. It is unable or nearly so, to traverse other
forms of matter — amber, sulphur, resin, silk, glass —
whrch are thence called non-conductors of electricity.

Electricity is roused from a latent state and rendered
active by friction and other agencies. Thus if we rub
a rod of glass and a rod of metal, the latent electricity
of both rods will be set free ; but tnth this notable
difference, the glass of the one being a non-conductor,
the liberated fluid cannot flow off over its surface and
accumulates upon it ; the glass is then said to be
diarged. The metal of the other being itself a con-
ductor, the fluid, as fast as. it is set free, flows off to the
hand which holds it. But if we insulate the metal rod,
support it on glass or hold it by a silk or buck-skin

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. JJ

glove, the free electricity, no longer able to escape, will
accumulate in the same manner and present the same
electrical phenomena as the glass one.

From these and similar facts, it may be inferred that
the electric fluid everywhere tends, by its own inherent
repulsion, to produce an equilibrium — a state of rest and
passivity in which it ceases to be cognizable by the
senses. That all the electrical phenomena which we
witness, whether the}~ be produced by natural or arti-
ficial means, are the result of the disturbance and ob-
struction to this equilibrium by the non-conductors
which lie in its path. Consequently, that if all matter
had been made capable of free conduction of electricity^
we might never have known of its existence.

This brings us to the practical study of artificial
electricity in illustration of the consimilar phenomena of
natural electricit}r by means of the electrical machine.

The usual electrical machine consists of three
essential parts. The electric, a glass cylinder or glass
plate, which is made to revolve by means of a crank ;
the rubber or cushion, which is made to press against
the glass by means of a spring, and the receiver or
prime conductor, usually a closed tin or copper vessel r
supported on a pallor of glass or other non-conducting
substance. As the cylinder a (Fig. I) is made to
revolve, the rubber b is pressed upon it by the elastic
spring d. The electricity liberated by the friction, is
carried over on the surface of the glass to f, where a
series of metallic points take it off and store it away in
the receiver d c for future experimental uses.

By means of this simple machine, with some easily-
made and inexpensive apparatus, it is easy to produce
most of the phenomena of a thunder-storm in miniature..

78 AUTOGRAPHIC AIv NOTES.

I have already spoken of the electrical atmosphere.
The receiver or prime conductor is now charged ; the
•electricity has assumed an atmospheric form around it.

The atmosphere is shown in Fig. I as it encloses a
section of the receiver. When the hand is brought
within this atmosphere, it receives a sensation as of a
current of cool air blowing upon it ; when brought still
nearer, it receives a luminous spark, attended with a
report and the instrument will have lost the most of its
charge. Its atmosphere has vanished. If I bring a
cork ball suspended by a non-conducting silk thread
near the charged receiver, it will be suddenly attracted
to it, will receive a spark, and now having an atmos-
phere of its own, is as suddenly repelled and is held at a
distance by the mutual repulsion of the two atmos-
pheres, as shown by Fig. III. If I bring my finger near
the ball, it is attracted to it, gives off the spark it had
received and is then again attracted and repelled as
before. It may thus be made to vibrate back and forth
until the whole charge is carried away from the
machine. When several balls are suspended in the
same way, their several atmospheres will be manifested
by their mutual repulsion, Fig. IV.

As already intimated, the arrangement of the elec-
trical atmosphere around the electrified body, depends
upon two principal factors : the attractive force of the
b>ody and the self-repelling force of the electricity. The
atmosphere is an equilibrium of these antagonistic forces.
In a spherical body where the centre is equi-distant
from all points of the surface, the atmosphere will be
equally distributed over its surface, Fig. V; but when the
body is irregular, the distribution will be also irregular.

In the conoid body, Fig. VI, the smaller end being

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. 79

more distant from the centre of attraction, the repulsive
force will meet with less resistance and will drive the
atmosphere inversely to a greater distance from the
surface, as shown in the figure. We may go on elongat-
ing the point until its attractive force becomes so feeble
as to permit the repulsive force to drive the electricity
entirely off and thus effect a spontaneous discharge.
We must not hastily dismiss this highly important
point, as it possesses very curious and interesting pro-
perties. If I put a pointed wire in the prime conductor,
Fig. VII, the machine cannot be charged, but a strong
current of air will be felt issuing from the point, accom-
panied in the dark by a beautiful brush of electrical
light. The explanation has been anticipated ; the
attractive force of the attenuated metal is not sufficient
to resist the repelling force.

But points attract or receive as well as disperse
electricity. When I present a metallic ball to the
charged receiver, no effect is observed until it comes
near, wThen a strong spark is received. This is called
the striking distance, which varies continually with the
strength of the charge and the form, size and material
of the approximating parts, Fig. VIII. If, instead of
the ball, I present a pointed wire, Fig. IX, a, the
result is quite different. While the point is yet far off,
the charge begins to gradually pass off, and long before
the point reaches its destination, is entirely exhausted.
The discharge takes place silently with only a luminous
star on the point when seen in the dark. The disparity
of effect is rendered still more obvious when both ball
and point are presented at once, Fig. IX, b. The
point reduces the charge before the ball can reach the
striking distance. The same result followrs even when

80 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

the point is kept much behind the ball, Fig. IX, c.
The presence of contiguous bodies around the point
may diminish or entirely annul the power to attract
or disperse the electric fluids ; the reason seems to be
that the greater combined electricities of the object,
with that of the point, affords greater resistance to the
charge than that of the point alone could do. This is a
matter of great significance.

Ever since electricity was brought into the arena for
scientific investigation, the phenomena presented by the
working of the electrical machine, crude as it nia}^ have
been, could hardly fail to suggest the resemblance
between artificial electricity and lightning ; but it was
reserved for the inductive reasoning, the keen sagacity,
and the inventive genius of our Franklin to demonstrate
their identity. The method which he used was as
simple as its conception was brilliant — an armed kite.
The conclusion was thus satisfactorily reached that
electricity was one and the same thing, whether elicited
by the friction of an amber bead, by the drawing of a
silk stocking, b}~ the stroking of a cat's back, by the
working of an electrical machine, or by the grand and
terrific movements of a thunder-storm as it hurls the
dread artillery of heaven on a terrified wTorld.

The Franklin lightning rod consisted of a bar of
rolled iron, planted a few feet in the ground, supported by
attachments to the building, and reaching a few feet
above the roof, terminating in an acute point. From
the known operation of metallic points, it was hoped
and confidently expected that a rod so constructed
wrould silenth' and imperceptibly disarm the cloud of
its danger before it could come within striking distance
of the building. Sad experience has shown that it has

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 8 1

too often failed to do so. The very important question,
how to construct a lightning rod, can only be answered
by a knowledge of the reasons why it has hitherto
failed to be effective.

After long and anxious inquiry, I have decided that
common round iron is practically the best material for
lightning rods. It is to my mind self evident, that as
we increase the size and solidity of the rod, we not
only increase its attractive force, but by increasing the
surface, we reduce the tension and consequently the re-
pulsive force of the charge. If so, it must follow that
we increase the power of the rod to hold the charge to
its surface, and at the same time render its transit down
the rod more easy.

It was formerly the practice and is yet too common,
to attach the rod to the building by various devices, but
the plan is not a safe one. About forty years ago, I recom-
mended the plan of attaching the rod to a pole some
distance from the building and disconnected with it.
This method has so far appeared to be a success in all
the cases where it has been adopted. My own rod,
four feet from the barn, was struck without injury to the
building. All sudden angles or short curves should be
avoided, yet our patent venders are continually carrying
their copper shoe-strings in every direction, over angles,
cornices and roofs, to stick a point a foot or two above
the middle of the roof, where, as I shall show, it is
altogether powerless. The requirements for an electric
point, are a sharp attenuated termination, and a
material that will not corrode with rust. Mere bright-
ness is of no consequence, if the point retains its sharp-
ness.

Now that silver has again put in an appearance, it is

82 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

decidedly the cheapest and best material. The costly
platinum and gilt points possess no advantage over the
following, which I have made and used for years :
Take a half dollar and cut it into four pieces. Get
your blacksmith to forge the two central pieces into points
and give him the other two pieces for his service. A
few strokes of the file will finish the job, and you have
two points equal to those you would buy for seven or
eight dollars, at a cost of only twenty-five cents. For
the manufacture and use of this point, be it known there
is no patent.

Thirty-nine years ago, I enthusiastically wrote :
' \ I^et the conditions of a perfect conductor be complied
with, make it one connected whole, sink it deep into
the earth, elevate it above all near objects and finish it
with a perfect point, and he who recommends it will
cheerfully abide the trial." So far is the rod from
presenting a point for the lightning to strike to, that I
believe it impossible for it to do so when properly con-
structed in every particular. My opinion is unchanged ;
my confidence unshaken ; but subsequent experience
has taught me, as well as others, that there are serious
obstacles in the way of thus providing for all the con-
tingencies that may occur. It is indeed probable that
contingencies may arise in which no human ingenuity
can afford protection. Cases where distance and magni-
tude will ever defy our puny efforts.

We cannot stay the earthquake nor stop the cyclone
in its destructive path. Yet, is it our duty to employ
the faculties which God has given us to investigate the
phenomena of nature, to study the laws by which they
are governed, and so far as we may, subject them to
our use, and ward off the danger which they may
threaten.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 83

In nine cases out of ten where failures have occurred,
the fluid has passed safely down the rod to the earth
and then by a back stroke, entered the building a few
inches from the ground. Here are the materials for a
new study. The rod may be capable of carrying and
dispersing a silent stream of electricity, but when an in-
tensified charge is thrown upon it with the suddenness
and velocity of a lightning stroke, the tension of its
atmosphere will be proportioned to the charge. This
highly intensified atmosphere, thus instantaneously
hurled down the rod with an inconceivable velocity to
the earth, is there squarely met and its further pro-
gress as suddenly arrested.

Now let us ask what is likely to follow, what must
inevitably follow. If it cannot diffuse itself over and in
the earth — and facts prove that it cannot — it must and
will force a passage by a secondary stroke, to some
other contiguous object, mostly to the building it was
intended to protect. Extraordinary cases of this kind
completely knock from under, our dependence on the
rod to conduct the charge into the earth or to scatter it
over the surface with certainty and safety, until some
more efficient method can be devised for dispersing the
charge. L,et us then endeavor to increase by every
means we possess, the preventive capacity of the rod,
and to establish a better connection to carry away and
disperse the fluid when a stroke occurs. Seven years
ago I made the suggestion, and have since put it into
execution, of keeping the base of the rod or a branch
from it, above the ground ; the rod being thus carried
to any desirable distance, and with the addition of some
old castings at its distal extremity, would, it is believed,
lead the charge away from the building and disperse it
at a safe distance.

84 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

Fifth of iiTh mo., 1877. — Received a certificate
of election as corresponding member of the West
Chester Microscopical Society from C. H. Pennepacker.

At the request of the Superintendent of Public
Schools, I furnished him with a history of the estab-
lishment of Friends' Meetings within the County, as
showing very nearly the time of opening the respective
schools belonging thereto. It was issued by Judge
Futhey in his report of the schools of the County.

Having seen a notice of the formation of the May
Anti-Slavery Library at Cornell University, and hav-
ing some documents of value, I forwarded them at once
and received the following acknowledgment and many
thanks :

" The Cornell University thankfully acknowledges the receipt
of the books — a list of which is hereto appended — which you
have recently been kindly pleased to present to its Library. The
volumes have been entered upon the Register of Gifts, duly
catalogued and placed upon the shelves of the University Library.

W. FlSKE,

Utica, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1877. Librarian.

IyisT of Books Presented by Dr. Ezra Michener
for the May Coixection :

Benezet, Anthony and John Wesley :

Views of American Slavery taken twenty years ago.

Philadelphia, 1838, i2nio.
BiU), Mrs. Iy. M. :

An appeal in favor of that class of Americans called
Africans. New York, 1836, i2mo.

Grimke, A. E. :

Letters to Catherine E. Beecher.

Boston, 1838, i2ino.

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 85

Phelps, Amos A. :
Lectures on Slavery and its Remedy.

Boston, 1834., i2mo.
Gknius of Universal Emancipation.
New Series, Vols. I, II.

July, 1827, 8, fto.
11 National Era," G. Bailey, Editor.
Vols. I to XIV, 1847, 60 — (some vols, incomplete).

Washington, 184.7, 60J0L

THE TORNADO.

TOUGHKENAMON, 21ST OF 7TH Mo., 1877.

Wm. D. Hartm an, M. D.

Bear Friend : — Many thanks for thy care of Old Harry in his
rampage. But where is thy authority for saying that cyclones
north of the equator always go from right to left, etc ? I question
its correctness. The observations of one eye witness are better
than many hypotheses. Facts must not be subjected to general-
izations. Maria's keen eye was not "in error," when she said
11 apparently going around from left to right." Harry has left
indubitable evidence of her correctness. After he had finished
his vandal work at Darlington's, he had to cross an old neglected
osage orange hedge, some twenty or thirty feet high. Its withy
stems and hempen roots were severely tested, but resisted to the
utmost and could not be broken. The whirl crossed the hedge
obliquely, the bushes on the left hand being bent backward
toward the observer, those on the right from him. To make the
indication doubly sure, the debris of the storm which had been
intercepted by the hedge on the left hand, was found on the
further; and that on the right, on the near side of the obstruction.
Please give my respects to Maria and furnish her with this con-
firmation of the correctness of her vision, and oblige thine,

E. MlCHENEB.

86 AUTOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

West Chestee, July 23, 1877.
De. Michenee.

My Dear Friend : — Thine of the 21st inst. received. I cannot now
refer thee to the paper on storms in which I saw it stated by

, bnt think it was in some of the quarto -vols, of the

Smithsonian, that cyclones north of the equator always go from
right to left, and south of the eqnator from left to right, owing
to the slanting form of the earth towards the equator, this
slant giving the direction to the wind when it strikes the
earth. I have seen dozens of small whirl- winds since I read
this and have invariably noticed hereabouts they always go from
right to left, and so say all whom I have ever questioned about it.
Your diagram convinces me that this one was no exception. I
think Baron Humbolt was the first one to notice the direction of
whirl- winds south of the equator. With kind regards,

I remain thine truly,

W. D. Haetman.

TOUGHKENAMON, 29TH OF 7TH MO., 1877.

Wm. D. Haetman.

Dear Doctor : — Thy kind note is at hand. It appears to have
been Dr. Halley who advanced the hypothesis alluded to in thy
letter. He rightly supposed that the sun moving constantly in
the same direction within the tropics, would produce rarefication
of the air under and immediately after him ; that the air, so
rarefied, would ascend and the deficiency be supplied by the cooler
and heavier air rushing in from each side ; the lateral currents so
formed necessarily taking an oblique direction after the sun. If
the earth presented one uniform, even surface, this would probably
be strictly true at all times and everywhere, but the diversity of
land and water, of mountains and valleys, of forests and deserts
of sand, must so much affect the rarefication of the air, and the
motion of the currents formed as in many places to render the
theory of difficult application, or only applicable to certain locali-
ties.

But whirl- winds, if I understand them, arise entirely from local
causes. They are geographical rather than astronomical, and
therefore are liable to be turned either to right or left by local

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 87

conditions ; nevertheless I have a strong suspicion that they are
in a great measure electrical, and may gyrate in obedience to some
law of electric force, perhaps unknown or imperfectly understood.
It is a very interesting question. Thine truly.

E. Michener.

West Chester, 11th Mo. 10th, 1884.
My Honored and Dear Friend :

A mutual friend last evening handed me thy ' ' Notes on
Tornado Forces." I opened the paper immediately and was too
much interested to lay it down until the last line was perused.

I was indeed much gratified at being the medium through
whom thee has chosen to lay it before the public, and will do my
best to do it and thyself justice. I do not think our Philosophical
Society, as now constituted, the right one to receive it, as I feel
assured that but one member has ever given the subject any atten-
tion. In the Microscopical Society, however, we have members —
Prof. Worrall, Prof. Phillips, Dr! J. C. Green and E. H. Town-
send — who could discuss and handle the matter understandingly,
if placed in their hands by the Society. I will cheerfully do
whatever thee may direct, but this paper is too valuable to be
buried out of sight. With thy permission, I should like to hold
it for the next meeting of the Microscopical, on the first Fifth day
in next month. That would give me time to make large copies
of the plates. With these, thy whole paper being so thoroughly in
accord with my own observations, beliefs and theories, I think
there can be no misunderstanding in regard to the meaning of any
part of thy paper.

I would also like to have permission to send a copy to the
Kansas City Review, a scientific monthly that has published some
articles upon the subject. I am sure it would be glad to have it
and would do it justice. Only last week the Signal Office at
Washington wrote me for an account of the Ercildoun Tornado. I
sent them a copy of R. D. 's pamphlet, and hunted my book-case
through for a copy of thy paper on the same subject. If thee has
a copy to spare, I would be glad to get it, as I think it should be
filed with Darlington's.

Affectionately thy friend,

A. Sharpless.

88 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

West Chestek, 11th of 12th Mo., 1884.
My Dear Friend :

Thy favor of the 12th, with pamphlet, is received, for which
accept thanks. I have already copied thy MS., so that it may
not be soiled in the hands of the printer, should it get there.
I do not think they should have it, unless they will have the
figures engraved to illustrate. I have made large copies of the
plates on drafting paper, so that they can be seen by and ex-
plained to a room full. I think I understand thy views on the
subject, and will do my best to lay them before our Microscopical
Society as thee has given them, neither adding to nor taking from
them ; but I cannot help feeling how much more gratified the
Society would be if thee would only come and spend the evening
with us and read the paper thyself. The Signal Office, a year or
more ago, sent to me maps, circulars and envelopes, with an ap-
pointment as Tornado Eeporter. Why they did so or how they
connected me with any knowledge of the subject, I do not know.
I have sent them two or three short papers since, all of which they
seemed glad to receive. But I really feel that I can furnish noth-
ing of value to them from my own personal knowledge. True I
have, ever since listening to a lecture on storms, by Prof. Espy,
nearly fifty years ago, taken a great interest in meteorologic
phenomena, and have greatly enjoyed watching the majestic
beauty and sometimes the fearful effects of some of our great
storms.

One First-day evening, a few weeks since, I was sitting at my
desk writing. A moderate rain-storm was passing overhead, but
I had noticed no thunder, when suddenly a sharp report, as a rifle-
crack, was heard. I knew the stroke was very near, but on going
to the door and looking out, all was dark. Next morning I found a
maple tree at our old homestead, not a hundred yards distant
from here, had been struck and shattered from the roots, to a
point about level with the roof of the house, about thirty feet from
it. I have since been very much bothered to know whether it was
an up or down stroke, but am inclined to think it was the former.
I have long been out of patience with our weather-wise prophets,
who are continually sending their prognostications to the papers.
I understand that Venner made considerable money out of it some

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 89

way, probably through issuing his almanac ; so a few days since
I wrote an article for the Local, " Weather-wise and Otherwise ;"
I find it in to-day's paper. I think thee will agree with me.
Some days ago I called to mind that some kind of a storm or
tornado occurred in the southern part of Chester and Lancaster
County, when I was yet a boy. I called upon a friend, Win. Mc-
Cullough, who lived at that time near Oxford. In giving me his
recollections of it, he says that it was in 1835 ; that it crossed the
Susquehanna at Peach Bottom, passed south of Oxford, continuing
eastward for several miles. According to his account, it was a
tornado and very destructive. Thine truly,

A. Shaepless.

TORNADOES AND TORNADO FORCES.

America has long been the home of the tornado, and
is the proper field for the investigation of its strange
and terrific phenomena. The sudden and unlooked-
for disruption of a whole family of these unwelcome
visitors in one quiet community, on the 3rd of Eighth
month, 1885, has awakened further inquiry in many
minds respecting the why and the wherefore.

Leaving more facile pens to delineate their haggard
features, I wish to inquire, or rather to incite others to
inquire into the physical organization, the mechanical
movements, the consecutive forces displayed by a well-
appointed tornado.

It appears to be the result of many observations, that
tornadoes are generally born in the temperate climates,
while their discordant parents belong respectively to
the torrid and frigid zones. Thus we are taught,
that while a strong current of cold air comes sweeping
down from British America, across the Western States,
it is met by an equally strong hot current from tropical
America by way of the Gulf. When these conflicting

go AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

currents meet, hemmed in perhaps by the buttals of
the Rockies, a conflict ensues. Further observations
seem to show that the tornado begins at this point of
contact. The earliest phenomena observed has been
the whirling motion of a small cloud, for if there were no
cloud present, the whirl of clear air would be invisible
and unknown ; such is the embryo tornado. In what
manner this motion is produced, or how far, if at all it
is dependent upon electrical action is still unknown.
I shall therefore assume this gyratory movement as the
motive power, a generative force of the tornado.
Before proceeding with the inquiry, I wish to premise,
i st, that the analogous causes produce analogous re-
sults, and minor forces produce minor actions. It is not
therefore necessary to involve a whole continent to get
up a tornado. The same relative conditions of what-
ever extent may produce one of corresponding propor-
tions. Thus the little dust- whirl in the foot-path is a
tornado. The different temperatures of sun and shade
may be the generating forces, while an ant hill may re-
present the Rockies.

I stood at noon- day where the ground was covered
with dry fallen leaves. The sky was clear, the air hot
and calm. Suddenly there was a rustling among the
leaves. They were rapidly gathered to a central point
from a radius of several feet, and as rapidly carried up
in a dense whirling column to the height of some
thirty feet. The shaft was a foot in diameter and ap-
peared almost as if encased in a glass tube. It stood
erect and did not seem to move. Very few, if any of
the leaves, were thrown off laterally until they reached
the top of the column, when they were thrown off
horizontally and fell to the ground by their own

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 9 1

gravity. It lasted only for a few seconds. That was a
typical tornado, and no doubt possessed, in its measure,
all the mechanical movements of the most destructive
storms.

2d. I have said that a whirl of clear air would be in-
visible, but the Gulf current, more especially, comes up
loaded with aqueous vapor which is condensed into
cloud material by contact with the cold air. As this
cloud is greedily gobbled up by the whirl, it soon pre-
sents a dark color, often the blackness of darkness.
3d. In a clear atmosphere, the formative tornado can
have little tendency to descend from its elevated birth-
place, and may remain unobserved ; but if gorged
with heavy vapor, like other floating bodies, it must
rise or fall in obeyance to its own specific gravity and
its own inherent forces. So in our late Chester County
tornadoes, though they were gorged to blackness with
watery vapor, yet, happily, the atmosphere was also
surcharged and rendered heavier by an abundant con-
densation, and was thus enabled to carry the storm-
clouds so high that comparatively little damage was
done by them, and that, mostly, on the higher points.
I would call special attention to this feature of that
remarkable day.

4th. We need not suppose anything supernatural in
a tornado ; it does not, it cannnot annul or suspend the
general laws of matter and of motion. The two forces
may co-ordinate and assist, or they may antagonize and
resist each other ; but the result must, respectively, be
the sum of the forces, or the sum] of the stronger over
the weaker force. This relation of the forces should
not be forgotten.

I shall consider these forces in the following manner.

92 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

The whirl once started, the most of them follow con-
secutively, yet in such quick succession as hardly to
allow of priority. They are :
i The Gyratory or Whirling.

2 The Centrifugal or Tangental.

3 Binding or Circumscribing.

4 Ascending or Lifting.

5 Feeding or Centripetal.

6 Projectile or Throwing.

7 Progressive or Travelling.
Two others have been named :

8 Zigzag or Swaying.

9 Rebounding or Ricochetting.

I.
The Gyratory Force.
This force, however it may be produced, appears to
be the most destructive element of a tornado. Agent
Findly estimated the velocity of the whirl as sometimes
reaching 2000 miles an hour. He says, " At the centre
of the tornado cloud," (I would prefer to say at the
circumference, for surely in a revolving body the
velocity will increase in the ratio of the squares of the
distances from the axis of rotation. It is most destruc-
tive on the right wing of the storm).

II.
The Centrifugal Force.

All revolving forces necessarily generate a centri-
fugal force, a tendency to throw off whatever it may
contain, away from the centre to the circumference,
leaving a more or less complete vacuum at the axis of
the whirl. Air being a ponderable substance is thus
affected.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 93

III.

The Binding Force.

The two preceding forces have a tendency to scatter
far and wide. The binding force tends to circumscribe
their action, and to say, "Thus far, nor farther rage,
and here let your proud waves be stayed."

Without this, the tornado could hardly be formed.
It would be a barrel without hoops. Yet from whence
is it derived ? How is it constituted ? It may be easy
to refer it to the antagonism of the outside centripetal
force, but the mere incidental rebuttal of the centri-
fugal and centripetal forces would seem to be entirely
inadequate to control such mighty force. Take the
Ercildoun tornado. The whirl, some fifty feet in
diameter, took up at a single gulp the lighter part of
the brick school building, a large new frame house,
barn, carriage house, with their contents ; and while
lifting them about one hundred feet high, ground them
into kindling wood in an instant, while the influx
current was merely sufficient to throw down a few small
trees in the near lawn.

There is little evidence to show that any considerable
portion of all this debris, estimated by Darlington at
about one hundred loads, found an exit until it reached
the top of the whirl. I again ask, from whence was
this force derived, and how was it constituted to hold
in abeyance all this destruction, as with massive hoops
of iron ? Do the other forces contribute to this end,
and in what manner ?

IV.

The Ascending Force.
As the gyratory necessitates the centrifugal, so it
also creates the ascending or lifting force by means of

94 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

the vacuum at the center of gyration. This highly
rarefied and consequently lighter air is easily displaced
and is forcibly driven upwards by the heavier air
around the outside of the base.

As already estimated it is not probable that a simple
air whirl would incline to descend, but would remain
suspended in mid-air, but when it becomes heavily
charged with watery cloud vapor or when subjected to
strong atmospheric disturbances it may sink to terra
firma. There it will gobble up whatever comes in its
path and drag its destructive course along the earth,
pressed down by the weight of its ballast. When that
is disgorged it will again ascend. In proof of this I
may again refer to our Chester County tornadoes of the
past summer. The easy ascent of the highly rarefied
and light air in the centre of the whirling shaft at once
necessitates the following feeding force to fill the vacu-
ity, for " Nature abhors a vacuum."

V.

The Feeding Force.

This too is a sequence of the centrifugal force.
While the in-rushing air seeks to supply and fill the
vacuum, it is effectually prevented from doing so. The
centrifugal force as constantly keeps the influx air
thrown to the circumference, leaving the vacuity intact
to perpetuate the process. This force is variable, as the
extent and violence of the whirl, the inequality of the
ground and other conditions vary. It is often sufficient
to throw down trees and other objects near its track,
especially on the right wing and in an inward and for-
ward direction.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 95

VI.

The Projective Force.

This is identical with the centrifugal force, only dif-
ferently applied. As soon as the whirling contents of
the cloud rise above the funnel, they are forcibly pro-
jected horizontally all around in the direction of the
tangents of the circle.

In the Ercildoun tornado a very large portion of the
debris from the Darlington place was thrown off to
the right and forward at an angle of some thirty degrees
from the track to a distance of fifty or more rods. Does
the right wing possess a greater projectile force than
the left, or was there a strong cross wind blowing up
there at the same time ? Perhaps both.

VII.

The Progressive Force.

It may be difficult to indicate an inherent progressive
motor in a tornado, and they do appear sometimes to
stand still at least for a time. Yet, we know fronr fear-
ful experience that they more generally move forward,
with great violence and to long distances. They may
seem to be the sport of the prevailing wind, but the
generally uniform course and strong wind in the same
direction renders it probable that both are in some way
controlled by the same law, which law may lie beyond
the reach of finite observation.

Mention has been made of two other forces, the Zig-
zag, which is described as a lifting or sudden shifting of
the whirl to a distance either right or left of the track.
As there is no obvious inherent cause for this move-
ment, it may perhaps be extrinsic, sometimes the sud-

g6 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

den burst of a second whirl, (see my notes on the great
tornado, plurality of whirls, pp. 19) more often per-
haps caused by some local impediment on one side — a
hill, a wood, a cross current. A tornado is a congeries
of matter in motion, and, as has been observed, must be
subject to the physical laws of matter and of motion as
is known to be the case with other moving bodies.
Greater resistance on one side or on the other can
scarcely fail to move the moving mass.

The Ricochetting Force — an alternate ascension and
descension. These movements seem rather to belong
to the ascending force and have been noticed under
that head.

As a man's tread is made heavier when he carries a
load, and becomes lighter when he lays it down, so it
is with the tornado ; it will rise or fall according to the
weight it carries, and its own impelling forces having
relation to the specific weight of the medium in which
it moves. Thus a tornado may be floating through the
air at a harmless elevation until it meets some air-cas-
tle pushed up into its horizon. In grappling with the
obstacle it will be depressed equal to the lifting force it
has exerted and may thus be rendered more destructive.
The castle builder, not the tornado, is responsible for
the mischief done.

Conclusion.

Perhaps there is little in these hasty and imperfect
notes that may not be found in the miscellaneous liter-
ature bearing upon the subject, but I am not aware of
any systematic attempt to analyze, to separately con-
sider, and to co-ordinate the tornado forces in accord-
ance with the known physical laws of matter and of

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 97

motion. Such labor, imperfect as it must be, can
hardly fail to afford a better appreciation of their co-or-
dinate action as we witness them in the apparent confu-
sion of the passing tornado.

A SAD NEGLECT.

In anticipation of the forthcoming history of Chester
County, I felt that a rare opportunity would be pre-
sented for Friends to rightfully vindicate their Christian
principles, and to show the harmonizing influence which
they happily have exerted upon the political, moral
and religious institutions of the county and of the
country.

With this object in view, I corresponded with the
authors and with various Friends, in order to enlist
them in the work. With what success the work will
show. The golden opportunity thus neglected may
not soon occur again.

West Chestee, April 21, 1879.
Dear Sir :

I desire to obtain some historical information which it occurs to
me you may be able to give.

The Chatham Inn property, as I understand, once belonged to
Gov. McKean and afterwards to his son, Joseph B. McKean.
What was the original name of the Inn before it was changed to
Chatham ? I have heard it spoken as the half-way house, but
suppose it had another name. About what period was the Inn
first opened, and was it kept at the dwelling house on the Way tan
yard property, now belonging to John I. Carter ? I understand
it was moved to the present house occupied as a hotel, on the con-
struction of the turnpike ; the name must therefore have been
changed to Chatham before its removal, as I have understood it was
so called by Gov. McKean previous to the breaking out of hostil-

98 ATJTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

ities, in honor of the Earl of Chatham, who favored the cause of
the colonists. What is your information on the subject? I sup-
pose the old Inn was on the old Gap and Newport road, is this so ?
What information have you with regard to the ownership of the
property by the McKean family? I should like to have any
information on the general subj ect indicated by these queries. I
must ask you to excuse me for troubling you with this matter but
antiquarians are not generally very backward about asking
questions.

J. Smith Futhey.

Toughke^amon, 23ed of 4th Mo., 1879.
J. Smith Futhey.
Bespected Friend :

Thy note of April 21 is at hand. Although my recollections of
the Chatham Inn go back fully seventy-five years, yet they are
mostly such as lead me to abominate the place with its famous
ball-alley, its character as a manufactory of black eyes and bloody
noses, and the number of drunkards which it almost daily fur-
nished to the highways leading therefrom.

I have no idea that the tavern was ever kept on the Way farm
or anywhere else than in the original stone house erected, as I sup-
pose by Gov. McKean, and since much modified. It was undoubt-
edly located where it now stands long before the turnpike was
made. It was notorious at the time that the three hotels, Coch-
ran ville, Chatham and New Garden, had much more to do in loca-
ting the turnpike than the topography of the County. This fact
will hardly be questioned as long as the track of the road remains
visible across the hills. I do not know the origin or the date
of the name, Chatham. It may have been used from the time
specified, in certain circles, but I do not recollect to have heard it
used in my early years. As the old Gap and Newport road was at
that period the main, almost the only market avenue for the rich
products of Lancaster County, the teamsters gave the place the
cognomen of Half-way House, it being about half way between the
two places mentioned. This is my understanding, and for many
years I knew it by no other name.

As I remember Chatham was not much patronized by this kind

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 99

of travel. The Conestoga teams usually stopped over night, going
and returning, at the New Garden Inn and at what was then
called Miller's Run (now Avondale). Sometimes as many as
thirty would stay over night at the Run, while I have known, on
one occasion, as many as one hundred and thirty at the tavern
below. Happily then there was no licensed groggery at Avondale,
though the want may have been supplied by a small grocery, as is
still too often done. In conclusion, I feel at liberty to speak,
though my friend, Judge Futhey, may not feel at liberty to hear,
that circumstances do not now seem to exist requiring the
continuance of the Chatham Inn license any more than at New
Garden. Yet, the latter has been dispensed with for several years
with great and obvious benefit to the neighborhood, while the for-
mer is continued — a prolific source of destitution, demoralization
and crime. Why is it so ? Where rests the solemn responsibility ?
The Courts throw it upon the law, but let me ask if the Courts,
under a full sense of their responsibility, will enquire into the
character of the petitioners, and the legal fitness of the signers as
respectable citizens, would they not, in very numerous instances,
find cause to withhold license ? While I am not unmindful of the
difficulties of the service and am more disposed to pity than to
censure those who have the duty to perform, yet I can but trem-
ble at the thought of the responsibility which they incur.
Most respectfully,

E. Michenee.

West Chester, Pa., 6, 22, 1879.

EZEA MlCHENER, M. D.

Esteemed Friend : — A few days ago I sent some sheets of paper
upon which I presumed to ask thee to write out a few facts in
regard to the agriculture of our County in time past. Although
farming has not been thy profession, I think thee will recall many
things connected therewith which have come under thy observa-
tion during a life of four score years. It is difficult to get those
who have confined themselves closely to the labor of farming to
give their experience in writing, and I must therefore draw upon
others. All to whom I speak on the subject become interested
and recall many innovations which have been made within their

IOO AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

recollection. I "believe I could get a vast amount of very inter-
esting material by going around among the old farmers, but I
really have not the time to devote to it at present and must try to
get my friends to put their ideas on paper themselves. This last I
would much prefer under any circumstances, but people will be
slow to respond.

I .am requested to furnish something for the state report which
I have promised to do, but wish to go into the subject deeper than
has been intimated as the design of their publication. I think all
would be surprised as well as interested with the result of a
thorough investigation of our agricultural history. It is my desire
to have papers of uniform size, that hereafter they may be bound
together and deposited with the Historical Society or in other suit-
able place. Hoping thee may be favorably disposed toward the
enterprise, I close. Thy friend,

Gilbeet Cope.

Toughkenamon, 20th of 10 Mo., 1879.
J. Smith Futhey.

Respected Friend : — I have learned with much pleasure that thou
and my friend, Gilbert Cope, are about to consummate the long-
talked-of and anxiously looked for Histoky of Chestee County,
but as far as I have been able to ascertain, there has been no pros-
pectus issued, unless it may be to special canvassers for the book,
whereby we outsiders can judge of the scope and character of the
work. It is confidently hoped, however, that the Natural Sciences,
for the cultivation of which our County has been somewhat noted,
will receive an ample share of attention. It would indeed be
treating the memory of the late Dr. William Darlington and his
co-laborers, whose hands have ceased from their labors, with dis-
respect were it otherwise. The early and rapid settlement of a
large portion of the district by Friends and the simultaneous estab-
lishment of meetings for Divine worship and schools for the proper
education of their children, I think entitles them to more than a
mere passing notice in the history of Chester County. Feeling a
deep interest in this matter, I have spent a few days in preparing
a brief notice of the meetings of the Society of Friends in our
county, with the names of some of those worthy pioneers who

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. IOI

established them. It will comprise about twenty pages of MS.
note paper. My desire to economize space has led me to condense
the records too much. If allowable, I would gladly extend some
of them. Truly.

E. Michexee.

West Chestee, Pa., Oct. 25, 1879.
Dear Sir :

I have received yours of the 20th inst. We got up a brief syn-
opsis of the general plan of our history, of which I have sent you
a copy, and it has also been published in the Local News. We
desire to make the history as complete as possible and to give full
credit to those who have labored in the cultivation of the natural
sciences. Indeed our country owes much of its celebrity abroad
to the publications of our scientists. We are also desirous of
giving due prominence to the history of Friends in the county,
their settlements, meetings, schools, etc. , and I am glad you are
preparing something for us. We are in no hurry and would pre-
fer that you do not economize space or condense in any way. We
will have abundant room and shall be glad to receive contribu-
tions extended enough to give proper prominence to any subject.
Yours truly,

J. Smith Futhey.

TOUGHKENAMON, 2STH OF 10TH Mo. '79.
Dear Friend :

Thy note of 25th inst. is before me. It kindly invites contribu-
tions for the forthcoming History of Chester County. While I
have long labored and am willing to labor in that field, my 85th
anniversary, now close at hand, reminds me that my day for labor
must soon close : indeed it has already closed as far as relates to
any active and profound research. In anticipation of this inevi-
table result, I sat down to the task rive years ago and prepared a
series of catalogues of the natural productions of Chester County,
systematically arranged, and laid them away for future use. The
series includes mammalia, birds, reptiles, fishes (defective), niol-
lusks, crustaceans, etc., and of phenogamous plants, ferns, mosses,
lichens and fungi, so far as known or understood to have inhabited

102 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

our district. The progress of natural science may require a re-ad-
justment of these catalogues, but the material is mostly there. I
received the prospectus and next day sat down to write a protest
against the use of the term Quaker instead of Friend. It is well
known that the former term was given them as a term of reproach,
and has time and again been repudiated by the society which has
ever accepted and used the name Friends. Jesus declared, ' l Ye are
my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I
call you Friends. ' ' Where, then, is the propriety of or necessity for
continuing a derisive and spurious name for a numerous and respect-
able religious body ? A word to the wise is sufficient. In justice
let me say that the proper use of the name Friends in thy letter
was very pleasant to me. Thine truly,

E. MlCHENEE.

West Chestee, Pa., Nov. 6, '79.
De. E. Michenee,

Dear Sir : — I duly received yours of the 28th. We are very
much gratified with your offer to prepare catalogues of the nat-
ural productions of Chester County for our history and accept it
with our most sincere thanks. It will aid us greatly. We would
be pleased if you would furnish the entire series, with such re-ad-
justment as you think they require. With regard to the plan
we desire to leave that to yourself, as your judgment will form
a better guide than we can furnish. Will only say that I
think the fuller and more complete they are the better, inasmuch
as this publication of them will probably for many years be the
source to which persons desiriug information on these subjects will
turn. Hence I would like them to be as full and complete as
reasonably practicable.

With regard to the term Quaker in the prospectus, I must say
that I did not notice it until after they were printed ; had I done
so I would have suggested the term Friend instead. I always use
the word in writing or speaking of the Society, and in my Histor-
ical Collection of Chester County, published from time to time in
the American Eepublican, I do not now recollect that I ever used
the term Quaker, though it is possible I may have inadvertently

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 103

done so. I was educated, principally, among Friends, and have
had a large intercourse with them in my professional career, and
also in a social way, and I know that the term Quaker has no
proper application. Yours truly,

J. Smith Futhey.

West Chester, Pa., Mae. 25, '80.
Dr. E. Michener.

Dear Sir : — I duly received yours of the 12th inst. I am pleased
that Prof. Cope will furnish the Ichthyology, so that our cata-
logue may be complete. We are certainly under great obligations
to you for your interest in this matter, and hope you may be
enabled to complete the lists. I know of no one who could do it so
well, and I feel desirous also that it shall be your work.
Yours respectfully,

J. S. Futhey.

West Chester, July 6, '80.
Erra Michener, M. D.

Dear Sir : — I have just received the manuscript containing an
account of the sufferings of Friends during the war of the Eevolu-
tion. The material is of a character which meets my entire
approval for insertion in our history ; indeed, it would be incom-
plete without such a notice and I shall gladly insert it.
Very truly your friend,

J. S. Futhey.

West Chester, 8, 16, '80.
Ezra Michener, M. D.

Esteemed Friend : — A few days ago Judge Futhey put into my
hands some papers which thee had sent him relating to the suffer-
ings of Friends in Eevolutionary times. He seemed to approve of
something of the kind being incorporated in our history, but referred
it to me as better acquainted with the subject. I would be glad
to see such matter published, but think it will have to be condensed
somewhat. I have a particular desire that the attitude of Friends
towards the Eevolution shall be correctly represented, and in fur-

104

AUTO GRAPHIC AI. NOTKS.

therance of this aim will try to get a list of those who were dealt
with for violating the discipline on the subject of war, and will
show that but a small proportion of them assisted the English. I
wish also to locate those who were attainted of treason and to
ascertain whether they were largely from Quaker neighborhoods or
otherwise. Eespectfully,

Gilbert Cope.

TOUGHKENAMON, 26TH OF 8TH Mo., '80.

Respected Friend :

Thy note of 16th inst. duly received. No doubt my list of
sufferings may seem lengthy, yet if curtailed, it would, like
Sampson, be shorn of its strength. The number and character of
the sufferers, the extent of the suffering, its recurrence several
times in the year, the character and behavior of the men who
made the distraints, are all important factors in the case. It also
seems necessary to show briefly how Friends view war in order to
exhibit the grounds of their testimony against it.

I have prepared a catalogue of the natural productions of the
county so far as I have been able, viz :

1. Of the Mammalians, . . . 66 species.

231

52

49

134

37

253

Of the phenogamous plants that have been found since the Morula
Cestrica was published, please add, page 140, Rudbeckia speciosa,
(Wender) after E. laciniata.

Page 197. — Isanthus casruleus (Michx) after Lavendula.
" 216. — Echinospermum lappula (Linn) after Mertensia.
" 221. — Calystegia pubescens ( ) after C. spithamaea.

" 254. — Onopordon acanthium (Linn) after Cirsium.
" 273. — Lobelium temulentum (Linn) after L. perenne.

Ilysanthes pyreidaria (Pursh.) perhaps not distinct
from I. gratioloides.-

More than 1200 Fungi have also been collected but must be
omitted.

E. Michenee.

2.

* Birds,

3. '

' Eeptiles,

4.

' Ferns, etc

5. <

t Mosses,

6. '

' Hepatics,

7. '

i Lichens,

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 105

Sylvania, 19th of 10th Mo., '80.
Esteemed Friend :

I have received the catalogue of fishes. While it is perhaps
extra scientific, I do not quite like it. Each of our modern ichthy-
ologist experts, Agassiz, Gill, Cope, etc., appear to have a tech-
nology and classification of their own, agreeing, however, in using
for their genera and higher divisions, very long, compound Dames,
derived from the Greek and which are utterly Greek to most com-
mon readers.

The dwellers along our numerous streams are fishermen, and
they have a more simple, economical ichthyology, a nomenclature
of their own, just as they have of the quadrupeds, birds, etc., and
it seems desirable to parallelize the two systems more fully than
has been done. This could be improved, by a more free use of
common names, and the addition of a very brief diagnosis of the
families. For example :

' ' Siluridee, ' ' add the Catfish, etc. , and so of other families. I
do not feel competent to make the additions, and it would not be
proper for me to do so, but if you should think it well to suggest
the change or addition I believe it would be cheerfully made.

Yours truly,

E. Mich e nee.

West Chester, 11, 3, '80.
Dr. E. Michener.

Respected Friend : — The list of fishes came to hand some days ago,
and in regard to thy suggestion that it should be made more intel-
ligible to ordinary fishermen we have concluded that if thee will
give us the additional data we will obtain Prof. Cope's assent to
its insertion. I would not be willing that it should go in without
submitting the proof to him. If thee wishes the list sent back in
order to make additional notes I will send it, or if only general
suggestions are to be made I will communicate the substance
thereof to Prof. Cope, with whom I am well acquainted.

Eespectfully,

G. Cope.

106 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

West Chestee, Dec. 10, '80.
De. E. Michenee.

Dear Sir : — We desire in our history to give a list of the books
written or compiled by the men and women of the county. I have
your ' ' Ketrospect ' ' and the Conchologia of yourself and Dr. Hart-
man. You wrote a paper on weeds which I have not got, and I
think I have seen an essay on Friends. Will you please give me
copies of the title pages, size and number of pages of the works
prepared by you other than the Eetrospect and Conchologia.

Yours respectfully,

J. S. Futhey

Sylyaxia, 14th of 12th Mo., '80.
J. Smith Futhey.

Dear Friend : — After the titles of publications :

1828. — An Appeal from Church Censure,

1831. — An Essay on Eeligious Society.

I860.— Eetrospect, etc.

1862.— Brief Exposition.

1869.— Christian Casket.

1872.— Manual of Weeds.

1874. — Conchologia Cestrica.

I hope and trust that your history will notice the religious
Society of Friends in its entirety and not in fragments.

West Chestee, 5, 5, '81.
De. E. Michenee.

Respected Friend : — At the suggestion of B. M. Everhart, Harry
Warren proposes to make some notes to the list of birds furnished
by thee, regarding their food and some other points, but prefers to
have thy sanction for so doing. I presume thee will not object
to this.

Can thee give us a brief notice of the Michener family, from the
most remote known ancestor, showing the line down to those now
living in this county, with some dates ? I have some data but
presume thee has more. Eespectfully,

G. Cope.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 107

EARLY EDUCATION AMONG FRIENDS IN
CHESTER COUNTY.

It is eminently proper that a historical notice of the
primary institutions of schools in Chester County
should commence with the labors of the religious
Society of Friends, for they were the pioneers in the
settlement of a large portion of the district.

In the formation of new settlements, the first wants
to be supplied were a place to assemble for divine
worship, and a school for the education of their
children. Within one year after the arrival of Wm.
Penn, we have this result : "At a Council held in
Philadelphia, the 20th of Tenth month, 1683, present :

William Penn, proprietor and Governor,

Thomas Holmes,

William Haigue,

Lassy Cock,

William Clayton.

The Governor and Provincial Council, having taken
into their serious consideration the necessity there is for
a school-master for the instruction and sober education
of the youth in the town of Philadelphia, sent for
Enoch Flower, an inhabitant of the said town, who for
twenty years past hath been exercised in that care and
employment in England, etc., etc."

In order more fully to comprehend the subject, it is
necessary to have a clear perception of the religious and
moral principles which constitute the peculium of the
Society of Friends. It is equally necessary to refer to
the establishment of their meetings and schools, as has
been alluded to, as the new settlements were pushed
forward.

I08 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

With, an abiding faith in the promise, ' ' Where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there will I be
in the midst of them," as they advance, the two or
three, to open a new settlement, they immediately com-
menced to meet together at each other's houses, in order
to realize this promise. Holding as the great funda-
mental principle of their faith, the immediate revelation
of God in the soul, so abundantly experienced in the
ages that have passed, but so strangely denied by many
Christian professors of the present day, it is obvious that
Friends have assumed for themselves a high ground of
religious faith and practice, a more spiritual worship in
agreement with the declaration that ' ' God is a spirit, and
they who worship him must worship him in spirit and
in truth.''

Friends are moreover distinguished from most other
Christian professors, by the testimonies they have
borne and do bear against all wars and violence and
oppression and wrong, all excess and intemperate in-
dulgence in the use of temporal goods and enjoyments.

The parent is the natural protector and guardian of
the child, appointed so to be by God himself ; and as it
is the duty of the parent to serve God aright, so it is
his duty faithfully to instruct and train the child in the
same path of religious duty. " Train up a child in the
way he should go, and even when he is old he will not
depart from it." Duty to the child is duty to God.

Such were the men, such were the religious sentiments
and the moral principles which instituted and controlled
the first schools over a large portion of Chester County.
Why should it have been thought strange that these
schools should have been kept under the surveillance of
their founders and devoted to give their children the

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. IO9

benefit of " a guarded religious and moral education ' '
as they understood it? They would have been shame-
fully derelict of duty not to have done so. But the
idea does not seem to have been used in a proselyting
disposition, for, although the schools were open to and
patronized by all classes, it does not appear that the
peculiar tenets of the Society w7ere specially inculcated
and enforced upon any.

For a time, these small and often isolated brother-
hoods necessarily had to manage their own affairs ; but
as their numbers increased, they came more under the
disciplinary care of the Society. Thus in 1746, the
Yearty Meeting advised as follows :

"We desire }tou, in your several monthly meetings,
to encourage and assist each other in the settlement and
support of schools for the instruction of your children,
at least to read and write, and some further useful learn-
ing ; and that you observe as much as possible to em-
ploy such masters and mistresses as are concerned, not
only to instruct your children in their learning, but are
likewise careful in the wisdom of God and a spirit of
meekness to gradually bring them to a knowledge of
their duty to God and to one another, and we doubt
not such endeavors will be crowned with success."

Passing over much earnest practical advice in rela-
tion to the settlement of schools from year to year, in
1778 it was advised —

' ' That in the compass of each monthly meeting, w7here
the settlement of a school is necessary, a lot of ground
be provided sufficient for a garden, or orchard, grass for
a cow, etc., and that a suitable house, stable, etc., be

provided thereon Such a provision would

be an encouragement for a staid person with a family,

HO AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

who would be likely to remain a considerable time —
perhaps his whole life — to engage therein. If to what
has been proposed, Friends were willing to add the
promotion of a subscription fund, the increase of which
might be employed in paying the master's salary if
necessary, and promoting the education of the poorest
children of Friends, etc.

We recommend to the Quarterly and from thence
to the Monthly and Preparative Meetings, that the
former advices of collecting a fund for the establishment
and support of schools, under the care of the standing
committee, appointed by the Monthly and Preparative
Meeting should take place, etc."

In accordance with these advices very many of the
meetings provided ample funds for school purposes,
which are still applied in that way. It is worthy of
remark that these measures were brought up during
the revolutionar}^ contest, when Friends were exposed
to the most excessive distraints of property on account
of military requisitions.

Friends sometimes opened schools for the convenience
of those who lived too remote to attend the meeting
schools. Thus Friends at West Grove built a school
house on the Chatham road, near Pyles' Run. The
school was taught by the elder Wm. Jackson. When
the meeting house was built in 1787, the school house
was moved thereto.

The amount of the school funds, their appropriation
and general management, must be sought in the records
of the respective Monthly Meetings. Our space is so
circumscribed that a single instance must suffice.

In accordance with these advices, as early as 1787, I
find Kennett Monthly Meeting prepared a series of nine

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. Ill

rules for the use of its Preparative Meetings in raising a
fund for the promotion of schools therein. The fifth of
these rules provides :

"The Trustees shall, as soon as they see occasion,
apply the interest arising from this fund to schooling
the children of such poor people, whether Friends or
others, as live within the verge of the Monthly Meet-
ing, provided that such children comply with the rules
of the school."

This plan of procedure, considerably modified, was
received and acted upon by Marlborough Preparative
Meeting, 3d of Eighth month, 1803, viz. :

Sec. 1. That a fund be raised in each of our Prepara-
tive Meetings, and three or more Trustees and a Treas-
urer be appointed by that Monthly Meeting, to each of
them to have the care and management of their respec-
tive funds, who are to be called and known by the name
of the Trustees and Treasurer of the School Fund of
Centre, Kennett, Hockessin and Marlborough Prepara-
tive Meetings.

Sec. 2. That a book be provided by each Treasurer,
wherein each subscriber is to sign a bill or note drawn
in the name of the Treasurer at five per cent, per
annum, interest. The principal so subscribed for is
not to be called for during the subscriber's life time or
residence within the verge of the Monthly Meeting ; but
a part or the whole may at any time be paid, for which
each subscriber so paying is to have credit given.

Sec. 3. Each Treasurer is also to provide another
book, wherein he is to keep a regular account of the
names of all children schooled, and of all expenditures
on that and other accounts relative to the said fund.

Sec. 4. The interest which may arise from said fund

112 AUTOGRAPHICAE NOTES.

is to be applied to the schooling and accommodating
Friends' children, or toward paying the salaries of
school masters or school mistresses, as the trustees may
think Friends' situation or circumstances may require,
and for no other purpose but with the consent or direc-
tion of the Preparative Meetings respectively.

All monies paid by the Trustees, is to be by written
orders from the respective Trustees or a majority of
them, who are to meet every three months or oftener, as
they may find occasion.

Sec. 5. The interest arising from the said funds is
to be paid to the Treasurer in the Twelfth month
yearly. The Treasurer and Trustees are to lay their
accounts and proceedings before the Preparative Meet-
ing, in order that they may be laid before the Monthly,
in the First month, yearly, to which or to the next
monthly, the Preparative Meetings are to propose
Trustees and a Treasurer for the ensuing year.

Sec. 6. The Treasurer is to call in all sums of money
which may fall into the hands of executors or adminis-
trators; or such sums as may be in the hands of such
subscribers as may be about to remove their residence
out of the verge of the Monthly Meeting, and with the
advice and direction of. the Trustees or a majority of
them, is to put out, in safe hands, at the aforesaid rate
of interest, all such sums and all other sums belonging
to the said fund which may have been paid in to them.

Sec. 7. No part of the principal is to be made use of
at any time, except by direction of the Monthly Meet-
ing, and then only for the purpose of raising an annuity,
purchasing land and making provision for the accom-
modation of school masters and school mistresses.

The records of the Preparative Meetings show 7th of

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. II3

Twelfth month, 1803, " Friends are requested to enter
into a subscription, etc. ;" and on the 4th of First
month, 1804, " it appears that Friends have subscribed
the sum of five hundred and seventy-six dollars. ' ' The
Meeting proposed Joseph Barnard, Enoch Wickesham
and David Chalfant as Trustees, and Richard Barnard,
Jr., as Treasurer.

At a Preparative Meeting, held 1st of Second month,
1826, a committee which had been appointed "to con-
sider the best mode of disposing of the increase of the
school fund, etc.," reported as their judgment, "that
the rising generation would be benefited and the
object of the Society promoted by an encouragement to
and provision for a teacher of a settled character, and
suitable qualification to engage in the school. With
this view of the subject, we are free to propose that
about two acres of land adjoining the Meeting house
lot be purchased and a convenient house erected there-
on, and that for this purpose such part of the fund may
be appropriated as may be found sufficient. ' '

These suggestions were adopted and the plan fully
carried out. In 1830, a resident teacher was employed,
who was continued in charge of the school up to 1851,
a period of twenty-one years. The school property, in-
cluding the fund, may now be worth over three thou-
sand dollars.

As an appendix to these notes, the following care-
fully prepared list of the times and places where
the meetings of Friends were first held in Chester
County and parts adjacent, apart from its own intrinsic
value, affords a proximate record of the first or primary
schools of the Society of Friends therein. A few meet-
ings, mostly temporary, have been omitted :

ii4

AUTOGRAPHIC AI< NOTES.

In 1675, Chester.

1682, Darby.
Merion.

" Haverford.
Radnor.

1683, Chichester.

1684, Newark.

1686, Concord.

1687, Centre.
1696, Newtown.

' ' Springfield.
" Middletown.
1696, Providence.

1703, Goshen.

1704, Birmingham.
1707, Kennett.
171 2, New Garden.
1 7 14, London Grove.
1716, E. Cain.

The numerous meeting
In the Society of Friends,

In 1 7 16, Bradford.
1720, Uwchlan.
1724, Sadsbury.

1728, Columbia.

1729, Lampeter.

1730, Hockessin.
1738, Wilmington.
1755, Lancaster.
1767, Willistown.
1772, Staunton.
1787, West Grove.
1792, Fallowfield.
1798, Marlborough.
1805, Doe Run.
1820, Penn's Grove.

" Bart.

1828, Oxford.

1838, Mill Creek.

1845, Unionville.
s, resulting from the division
are not included in the list.

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE GRANTING OF

LICENSES TO SELL INTOXICATING

DRINKS, 1879.

It had for many }^ears been a growing source of dis-
satisfaction that the practice of our courts, in granting
tavern licenses, was not in accordance with the spirit of
the license laws, nor in harmony with the progressive
public sentiment in favor of temperance.

Four years ago, (1875) Judge Butler, of this County,

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 115

feeling no doubt the pressure of this dissatisfaction,
gave an exposition of the practice of the court in the
premises. (See West Chester Local News, May 19th,

1875);

This exposition led me to prepare a series of critical
notes on the subject, which appeared in subsequent
issues of the same paper. As the cause for complaint
still exists, I have been induced to repeat them in an
amended form, with some additions.

Believing that Chester was as ably represented in her
judicial appointments, as any of her sister counties, I
accepted the proceedings of Judge Butler as a fair
standard of court practice for the State, with the express
understanding that my strictures were not personal, but
general.

Judges are, like other men, fallible. They too are
creatures of circumstances. They become habituated
to particular modes of thought in the construction of
laws, and to special forms of procedure in their ad-
ministration. By too close an adherence to those tra-
ditional methods, the progress of intellectual, moral and
religious improvement may be seriously hindered, and
the good purpose of the law, frustrated. I shall en-
deavor to show that such has been, and is, the fact in
regard to the granting of tavern licenses.

Language, like -all human productions, is imper-
fect, often indefinite, and in lapse of time, changes
its manner of meaning and consequently its use. Even
the terse language of Law, with all its technicalities,
frequently admits of various, and even conflicting con-
structions, and thus affords an abundant supply of
pabulum leg alts for the lawyers.

Laws, like the Scriptures, may be said to possess

Il6 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

both a literal and a spiritual meaning, and like them,
the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Lawyers
may wrangle about the letter, but it is the solumn duty
of the judge to diligently seek for and inflexibly main-
tain the spirit of the law, which is Justice. Justice to
man, and to God.

We can not fail to perceive that the license laws
were in their inception strongly preventive, and restric-
tive, and only permissive in toleration of the general
sentiment in favor of what has been called moderate
drinking. Both in their inception and their applica-
tion they were strictly and essentially a temperance
measure, designed to prevent the disorders, the drunken-
ness, and the dangers resulting from the unrestricted
sale of liquors. They restricted the privilege to sell
to a few persons who must be certified by twelve
" reputable citizens," to be " of good repute for honesty
and temperance," under many and stringent regula-
tions ; and this was done for the declared purpose of
providing safe and comfortable accommodations for
strangers and travellers. The compensation from these
were intended to afford a remuneration.

The spirit of the law still seeks to promote the same
benevolent object, but the letter has been shamefully
prostituted by a corrupt legislature, and a too servile
judiciary, to the unholy purpose of filling the coffers
of a few demoralized rum sellers, and possibly their
own, to the serious detriment of the whole community.
The letter has thus been permitted to take the ascen-
dency. Indeed, a mighty change has come over us : a
change in the modes of conveyance ; a change in the
lines of travel ; a change in the habits of the people.
These changes have superseded the necessity for many
of the licensed houses of entertainment, and cut off the

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 117

legitimate means for their support. Unhappily, with
these, there has been a change of purpose, for which
licenses have been sought for and granted ; a change of
legislation and a change of court practice. Hence the
same old houses, with a host of new births, continue to
be licensed, and for what ? Too often, it would seem,
to become mere tippling houses, manufactories of
drunkards, manufactories of paupers, manufactories of
criminals, to replenish our poor-houses and jails, and to
furnish victims for the gallows. The records of the
institutions named, everywhere, bear ample testimony to
these facts.

"Say Keason, say,
When will thy long minority expire ?
When will thy dilatory Kingdom come ? ' '

We are often reminded that civilization is progres-
sive ; that the intellectual, the moral, the religious
faculties of man's nature are being constantly more and
more developed. That poor humanity is rising up from
her polluted bed, regenerated, and fitted for a higher
and a holier sphere. This boasted progress should in-
spire the cheering hope that the sale of intoxicants will
yet be more and more restricted, until it will only be
allowed across the druggist's counter for strictly medi-
cinal and art purposes. When it will only be found on
the shelves by the side of arsenic, strychnia and
atropia ; and when, like them, it will be indellibly
stamped with the same cautionary label — Poisox.
When both the seller and buyer will be held to a strict
account for every overt or covert violation of their trust.
But when ! O, when, will this consummation, so
devoutly to be wished for, be accomplished ? When !
O when !

Il8 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

In considering this question, it must ever be remem-
bered that the license plan was introduced to remedy
the many evils of intemperance, by those who were
themselves very generally addicted to what they
modestl}7 called — moderate drinking. We need not,
therefore, wonder that the measure was imperfect and
liable to abuse. No plan can be considered perfect
which is not based on totai, abstinence.
(1710). — "Whereas, a great abundance of taverns and
of public houses, for the vending of spirituous
liquors, have been found to promote habits of idle-
ness and debauchery7, to the end that the number
thereof be determined by the measure of real utility
and necessity, be it enacted —
That no person shall hereafter keep an}7 public inn,
tavern, ale-house, tippling-house, dram-shop, vict-
ualing-house, or public house of entertainment, un-
less such person shall first be recommended by the
Justices in the respective count}7 courts, etc."
It was the express purpose of the law to constitute
the Courts guardians of the public weal, and to see
that none should be recommended whose known
character is not worthy of their confidence, and to take
care that the number be kept within the limits ' ' of real
utility and necessity."

(1710, 1794, 1856). — "Ever}7 person intending to apply
for license shall file with the clerk of the court of
quarter sessions, his, or her petition, three weeks be-
fore forwarding the same to the court ; and the said
clerk shall cause notice thereof to be published three
times in two of the newspapers of the county, in case
of hotels, inns, taverns and eating-houses. The
petition shall embrace a certificate signed by at least

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. II9

twelve reputable citizens of the township, setting-
forth that the same is necessary to accommodate the
public and entertain strangers and travellers ; and
that such person is of good repute for honesty and
temperance, and is well provided with house room
and conveniences for the accommodation of strangers
and travellers."

The license laws give the courts ample discretionary
power to execute the guardianship confided to them.
(1834). — " No court shall license any person to keep an
inn or tavern, unless from the petition and certificate,
or from their own knowledge, or from evidence
sought for and obtained, they shall be satisfied of
the fitness of the person and the sufficiency of the ac-
commodations . "
(1856). — "The courts shall fix by rule, or standing
order, a time at which the applications for license
shall be heard, at which time all persons applying or
making objections, may be heard, by evidence, peti-
tion, remonstrance, or counsel."

The license law, as here sketched, may be called the
Pennsylvania Law Temperance Society. True, it
necessarily wanted the crushing lever of total absti-
nence, for the material did not then exist. Neverthe-
less, so long as it retained its stalwart builders, it was
an engine of tremendous power. But so soon as it was
discovered that moderate drinking meant moderate
drunkenness, with a notable assurance that it would
soon develop into gutter drunkenness, the legislature
craftily turned the whole concern over to the whiskey
league, who had just then announced itself to be the
only genuine and effective temperance society in ex-
istence. Alas ! how often do we see those magnates of

120 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

law ; men ' ' of good repute for honesty and temper-
ance, ' ' endeavoring to draw the unwary to their houses
by a prominent horse race, fox hunt, or base ball ; any-
thing to draw the young, the idle, the profligate, to
their bar. The ' ' reputable citizens ' ' who signed the
certificate, often seen in the forefront of the crowd.

How often do we see our courts continue to give
licenses to men " of good repute for honesty and tem-
perance," until it is at last found on the brink of a
drunkard's grave, into which its possessor had just
fallen. Say, ye ermined conservators of the public
weal, are the disgraceful and revolting scenes of drunk-
enness, profanity and obscenity so often witnessed in
and about our licensed groggeries, proper places to ac-
commodate the public, or are they places of safety and
comfort, such as the law contemplates to entertain
strangers and travellers ? I think not.

But it is time to hear what the courts say on this
matter, on the occasion already referred to (1875).
Judge Butler said : " The facts were in the papers of
each case, and on them they would rely in determining
the cases."

' ' Where license had been once granted, and there
was no remonstrance now, they would grant license."
Prima facie evidence.

" Remonstrances of general character they would not
entertain, but directed them to be filed in the clerk's
office."

Now it must be remembered that there were from
seventy-five to one hundred applicants for license, each
with their twelve or more signers, aggregating more than
one thousand persons. The court might be supposed
to know — perhaps did know — from personal acquaint-

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 121

ance, that among those whose names were presented
there, were petitioners who were not in "good repute
for honesty and temperance," signers who were not
"reputable citizens," and localities where houses
were not necessary to ' ' entertain strangers and travel-
lers." If the court was not informed on these points, it
would seem to have been its duty to become so, for on
this knowledge rests the whole power to grant licenses.
The law is imperative :

i ' No court shall license any person to keep an inn or
tavern, unless from the petition and certificate, or
from their own knowledge, or upon evidence sought
for and obtained, they shall be satisfied of the fitness
of the person, and the sufficiency of the accommoda-
tions."

Indeed everybody, except the court, seems to be
aware that falsehoods are too often substituted for facts
in ' ' the papers, ' ' and that, in many cases, both petitioner
and signers are legally incompetent.

It is therefore neither warrantable nor safe for the
court to rely upon the papers alone ; nor can they safely
refuse to admit evidence of whatever kind. Yet in this
instance, a remonstrance, signed by nearly four-fifths of
the citizens of the Borough of Oxford, was thrown
aside because it was only a temperance remonstrance of
a general character.

The law does not so discriminate ; it is the court
which discriminates, and who prescribes every person
who is willing thus to avow temperance principles, but
does not wish to impugn the personal character" of his
neighbor.

It is more than thirty years since a man, who for the
last year had kept a temperance house, again petitioned
for whiskey license. His application was met by a

J 22 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

remonstrance signed by sixty-nine of his immediate,
votable neighbors, and by two hundred and thirty
women, many of whom had drained the bitter cup of
misery and want to its dregs by reason of those who
should have been their support and protection, having
been demoralized and brutalized by the liquors sold at
that same house under previous license, and earnestly
imploring the court not to renew the cause of their des-
titution and sufferings ; but it was of no avail. A com-
mittee of five, who subsequently addressed a note of
inquiry to Judge Bell in relation thereto, received a
severe reprimand, charging them with a dangerous and
alarming attempt to interfere with the judicial action
of the court, and to tarnish the purity of its ermine.

Admit that the granting of licenses is a judicial act,
it might have taxed the ingenuity of Judge Bell to
show how this procedure could be construed an interfer-
ence with the action of the court long after that action
had been performed. But the reply was, that the
granting of liquor licenses is not a judicial function.

Judge Butler spoke of having received letters, pend-
ing the granting of licenses on one side or the other.
To address such letters, he remarked, ' ' was a mistake,
or worse. ' ' Though not fully defined, it seems to refer
to the same interference with judicial practice, and ob-
tained the same answer.

Only three weeks ago, (May 3rd, 1879) Judge
Watson, of Bucks County, seems to have taken still
stronger ground, and comes well nigh denying to us the
right of remonstrance altogether. Attorney I^ear pre-
sented a remonstrance from Buckingham, signed by two
hundred and eight voters and three hundred and thir-
teen women, praying that no license for the sale of
intoxicating liquors be granted in that township.

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 1 23

After reading the petition, Mr. L,ear said: "The
court is directed, by the Acts of Assembly, to hear any
person for or against licenses. The remonstrances may
appear in person or by counsel. Mr. Eastburn and my-
self have been employed to present the views of the re-
monstrants. The Act of 1875, provides that the court
may grant licenses. It authorizes the court to hear any
person applying for, or objecting to, applications for
licenses. In the exercise of their discretion the courts,
in certain counties of the commonwealth, have restricted
the number of licenses granted. In Washington
County, I was told by Mr. L,awrence, a few years ago,
there were but two licenses granted. I am informed
that there are none in it now. Upon inquiry why that
was so, he said that the sentiment of the county was
against it, and the court, in deference to that public
sentiment, had restricted the number to two. In Potter
county there are no licenses granted at all, for the
same reason. The only way by which the feelings and
wishes of the community can be brought before the
court is in this manner. The "voters and ladies of
Buckingham have a right to have their sentiments on
this question presented here, and whenever the court
ascertains that it is the wish of a very considerable
portion of the respectable people of the community that
no license should be granted, then in deference to their
wishes, and to that public sentiment, it should withhold
the licenses."

To this Judge Watson made the following extraordi-
nary and censorious reply :

"I do not know whether you have considered the
propriety of presenting a remonstrance of this kind.
It probably has not struck you in the same manner that

124 AUTO GRAPHIC AL« NOTES.

it appears to the court. I have so often expressed
myself in regard to the duties of the court, in the matter
of granting licenses, that I should think that the posi-
tion of the cotirt ought, by this time, to be understood ;
yet, it seems that it is not, and as if it was necessary to
explain it over and over again.

A judicial officer is an officer of the law. He is bound
to perform such duties and such acts as the law imposes
upon him, no matter what may be his own private,
individual opinion, as to the propriety of that law and
the acts which it directs him to perform. Among these
duties is that of granting licenses for taverns, wherever
the accommodation of the public requires them, for the
entertainment of strangers and travellers. It matters
not what I think of the propriety of selling or using
intoxicating liquors. When petitions of this kind are
presented to the court, our duty can not be regarded in
that way b}T the worthy people whose names are signed
to them. Although they do not so intend, yet it seems
to me as if the}^ were asking me to violate my official
oath, to refuse to perform a duty which the law imposes
on me. This is the way I regard it, and I can not
regard it otherwise." — Bucks County Intelligencer,
May ?th, iSyp.

There seems to be much harmony both in principles
and in practice among the courts so far, and our new
Judge Futhey seems to be an apt scholar, as I do not
learn that in his prentice effort he found more than
one spotted sheep out of the whole flock, and that so
easil}r rubbed off as to entitle the wearer to an eating-
house license. They all seem to fall spontaneous^ into
the same errors or misconceptions of their position and
their duties, in relation to the granting of liquor licenses.

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 25

Perhaps we do not need a further repetition of the
many homilies we have had on the duty of the courts to
grant licenses ; we understand that pretty well. But we
wish you now to consider your duty to withhold the
license asked for.

You have unfortunately failed to perceive that every
feature of the license law, from its earliest inception,
was strictly and entirely prohibitory and restrictive,
not in anywise conducive to the sale of liquors, and it
need not require very profound legal acumen to dis-
cover that the duties which a restrictive law imposes
upon the courts must themselves be restrictive. In the
case already alluded to before Judge Bell, the only
privilege sought was a license to sell liquors, for he
already possessed all the rest ; yet the court granted the
privilege on the certificate of twelve men, one of whom
was himself a licensed whiskey seller, and five of the
remainder were common drunkards in their neighbor-
hood, and had doubtless been made so at the house they
recommended, and this in total disregard of a remon-
strance signed by two hundred and ninety-nine of the
more intelligent and moral portion of his neighbors.

The remonstrance from Oxford, four years ago, and
that from Buckingham, already mentioned, are cases
equally in point. In all those instances, whether it was
' ' sought for ' ' or not, there was, or might have been,
sufficient evidence ' ' obtained, ' ' under a proper con-
struction of the law, to have led to very different results.

The courts fail to perceive their true position, under
the license law, as the appointed guardians of morality,
temperance and good order ; and not in the least con-
ducive to the sale of intoxicating liquors. They con-
sequently fail to feel the solemn responsibility which

126 AUTOGRAPHICAI. NOTKS.

rests upon them whenever they step beyond the
restrictions of the law, ' ( the measure of real utility and
necessity."

The courts sympathize with, and seek an apology for
rum-sellers who have violated the law. Judge Butler
said, ' ■ They did not think it proper to refuse license to
respectable men, who had been convicted during Local
Option, of selling liquors." * * "These men had
been punished severely." * * "But they had not
broken the confidence especially reposed in them by the
court. " * * " Besides it was very likely that many
others had as greatly violated the law ; while some of
those convicted were among the most reputable men of
the county."

This sounds more like the limp excuse of a pettifog-
ging lawyer at the bar, than the exposition of the case
from the bench. I have no personal knowledge of the
"reputable men " alluded to, nor do I know the court
standard of respectability, but have said that the
meaning, and consequently, the use of words, change.
Webster, as a standard, does not associate "violators of
law, " " severe punishments , " " forfeiture of legal
rights," etc., with the characteristics of the "most re-
spectable men." But great men err, and books become,
obsolete. I have not the later authorities.

But others may have violated the law, sure enough.
Then why punish some so severely, and allow others to
escape ? Would you hang one poor miscreant who had
been convicted of murder, while a hundred other scape-
gallows murderers are running at large ? The trifling
circumstance of his being caught certainly does not add
anything to his crime. Then why this partiality?
Why not give him a certificate of respectability and
set him free until all the scape-goats shall be caught ?

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 127

But those respectable law-breakers ' ' had not broken
the confidence reposed in them by the court ! ! ! " Very
true ; and for the meritorious reason that Jack did not
eat his supper. The court had not reposed any con-
fidence in them ! ! !

This extraordinary plea for the violation of law
brings us a new revelation, and teaches us the vast
difference there is between violating the law and break-
ing the confidence of the court, at least in the opinion of
Judge Butler.

HEREDITY OF DRUNKENNESS.

Permit me to call your attention to the subject of
Heredity in relation to drunkenness, or the transmis-
sion of the physicial and mental faculties, features and
conditions of the parent, to his offspring ; whether those
conditions may be natural and healthy, or acquired and
morbific.

It seems to be admitted that all vitalized or living
beings, whether belonging to the animal or to the
vegetable kingdom, are the joint result of a fertilizing
and a fertilized parent. However much the means may
differ, there seems to be one general law of reproduc-
tion for the whole series of animated existence.
Heredity has been studied by the floriculturist, the
horticulturist, the agriculturist, and the stock-farmer ;
or rather, they have accepted, and acted upon the con-
clusions of the scientist for the improvement of their
respective callings. And the physicians, more than
all these, have studied it in relation to hereditary
diseases, but, strange to tell, the People, if not ignor-
ant, are at least neglectful of its teachings ; they seem
oblivious to the fact that the law of heredity,

128 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

"1,1KB BEGETS ITS UKE,"

Is continually in operation, and too often produc-
ing the most disastrous results, even in their im-
mediate households and more intimate family circles.
My purpose is to endeavor to awaken a deeper atten-
tion to this important subject, and to show its intimate
and fearful bearing upon the temperance question.

Heredity is more easily observed and studied in the
human family. We can better understand and appre-
ciate the transmitted features of the parents, as they
manifest themselves in the children, than among the
lower orders. I shall therefore draw my illustrations
from our own race. I have already alluded to the law
of reproduction requiring two parents, and you are all
familiar with the reappearance of their characteristic
features in the child. Some fine physicial form, or
brilliant mental faculty, or perchance, - the fatal blush
of consumption, or the leper spot of cancer. How is
this effected ?

We cannot tell ; but the facts are well known. Nine
times out of ten the gossip of the birth-chamber will
soon tell you what of the features, and of which parent
the new birth bears the semblance ; and after years,
will more deeply impress the likeness of the one or the
other. Let me remind you, that as the mental facul-
ties can only be manifested by, and through the
physicial organism, it would seem to be the organiza-
tion that is hereditary.

As color perhaps affords the most easily observed ex-
ample of heredity, I will use it for my illustration.
We already have the acknowledged fact, that where one
parent is white, and the other black, the child will be a
mulatto. No one doubts that.

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. I 29

When a woman of fair complexion marries a fairly
black man. she may live with him for half a century
and her fair skin wTill receive no tarnish that ordinary
soap would not remove — provided, that she should es-
cape maternity. But if that should occur, she will be
found to have become slightly bronzed during its con-
tinuance, and which Ivory soap 99yVo pure will not re-
move. And each subsequent maternal period, however
frequent, will give her another and an increasingly deeper
shade, until she has acquired the color of a quadroon,
with the features of a wrhite woman. After she has
thus become party-colored, she too begins to impart of
her acquired color to the embryo, while her whiten-
ing influence is diminished ; consequently, each suc-
cessive child will present a darker shade. This differ-
ence in color is easily observed.

The service of the Philadelphia Dispensary, sixty-
seven years ago, afforded me several observations of
this kind. The peculiar contrast of features and color
led me to suspect, and challenge, the women with hav-
ing colored husbands, and I was not mistaken. One of
them afterwards obligingly brought her three children
to show how they successively became darker.

At a later period, 1847, I visited the Indian settle-
ment at Cattaraugus, N. Y. I there found Maris
Peirce, a well educated Indian chief, married to a very
worth}- New England lady, who had come among them
as a teacher. She had probabfy enhanced her useful-
ness by thus fully identifying herself with them. They
were surrounded by a family of children. The mother
was almost as much an Indian in color as in her family
associations. The graded colors of the children were
equally well pronounced. The severe illness of one of

130 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

her children, and my opportune professional service for
several days, afforded ample opportunity for observa-
tion.

In order to solve this color problem, we must recur to
our married couple. During maternity, the mother
and embryo are both fed and nourished by the same
current of mixed elementary coloring, but in very un-
equal proportions. Let their weights represent their
respective color elements — say one hundred and sixty
pounds, and eight pounds ; but the latter is half white,
and must go to the mother. The account with them
stands T£¥ or ^r as the proportion of color left in her
system. This, when several times repeated, becomes
quite conspicuous.

Now there is no doubt, indeed you witness it con-
tinually, that other, perhaps all other, conditions of
parental organism may be transmitted in the same
manner as color ; first to the embryo, and through it to
the mother. This presents a gloomy prospect to many
a worthy female, and bespeaks necessity for greater
caution than they sometimes observe in respect to their
family relations. Such is Heredity.

With these ideas so hastily rendered, fresh in your
memories, let me lead you to the wretched abode of the
drunkard. Yon dismal looking creature, skulking
away in a corner to escape observation, was but yester-
day a brilliant and accomplished youth ; the comfort
and pride of his parents and friends ; the hope and
promise of all that is noble, and great, and good, in
man. Now, the noble bearing of his manhood is gone ;
his appetites and passion, the whole physical man, is
imbruted ; his brain, thrice case-hardened in alcohol,
no longer responds to the finer demand of intellect, and

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 131

you see only the dilapidated remains of what he once
was.

And what was the cause of all this ruin? Noth-
ing ; only that he drank a little wine, and a little
brandy ; and a little more ; and a little more ; and a
little more ; and you witness the heart-sickening re-
sults.

The story does not end here. He gains the affections
of a young woman who was every way worthy of his
highest aims, and overcame her fears and hesitancy by
plighting his faith and honor to renounce the fatal
bowl, now and forever ; but his vows were soon broken.
There, too, you see the semblance of a woman. She
also seeks to hide her pale and emaciated form beneath
her scant and tattered garments. Her every feature
bespeaks humiliation, destitution, and a broken heart.
On a pallet of straw by her side lies a little girl, sick,
and dying, for the want of that which she is unable to
supply ; while a younger babe is vainly endeavoring to
draw nutriment from a bosom already drained of every-
thing but a mother }s love. If this is drunkemiess, does
not ten thousand — yes, a hundred thousand such cases,
afford a valid plea for Prohibition ? Still, we must
bide our time and await the tardy progress of Reform.

In the meantime, if I could raise my trumpet voice
so loud, I would say to every young woman in the
land who are by nature, and of right, candidates for
matrimony : Is it not your duty, as it is your interest,
to prohibit every advance, from whatever quarter, that
looks towards you becoming the wives of drunkards,
and the mothers of their degenerate children? This
would afford immediate Prohibition of the most prac-
tical kind. Try it.

132 autographicaiv notes.

The Conclusion.

Heredity is readily acknowledged in its more palpable
forms of consumption, cancer, insanity, and that curse
of curses, syphilis. But the law is so broad, and its
terms are so exacting, that there is probably no morbid
condition, physical and mental, that is exempt from its
penalties. We are all willing to anticipate the repro-
duction of the noble form, the comely features, the
bright intellect of the parent in the child ; why then
should we ignore the recurrence of the less pleasing
features ?

It is now well understood that alcohol, even in that
innocent form — the moderate use of it — does produce
serious and lasting morbid conditions, both physical
and mental, which become hereditary ; and too many
parents are in this morbid alcoholic condition, and are
entailing it Upon their posterity.

Nor does heredity stop here. The same baneful in-
fluence passes on through the medium of the babe un-
born, and inheres permanently in the organism of the
mother during the period of maternity, causing a
gradual deterioration and approximation to the condi-
tion of the father, as has been fully illustrated by the
intermarriage of white and colored persons.

ESSAY PREPARED FOR A TEMPERANCE

CONFERENCE.

As we sometimes pause in our labors to take a nearer
and more comprehensive view of the situation, we see the
multitude and the magnitude of the evils which every-
where abound, and we judge our own puny efforts
as utterly impotent to stem the mighty mass of corrup-

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 33

tion which is opposed to us. No marvel that we
should become discouraged. But let us remember that
yon mighty ocean, as it surges with resistless force, is
only an aggregation of drops of water, and that if, of
these, only one drop in a day should be removed, the
whole would eventually be dried up. Let us remember
that the years and the ages, as they roll into the past,
are made up of moments ; if only one of these moments
has been improved, the world has profited by it. So
let us remember that the nations of the earth are com-
posed of individuals, and that when we shall succeed in
reforming one of these individuals, we will have ad-
vanced the good work. One individual can indeed do
very little, yet it is the aggregate of these ones which
represents the Hercules who is to cleanse the Augean
stables of the accumulated filth of untold ages.

Frederick H. Hodge writes : " The method of God,
in the processes of nature, is not instantaneous birth
but progressive formation. Nothing bursts into being
full grown and complete. The smallest flower does not
spring from the earth with its petals all spread and its
raiment perfect. First, the seed must burst its capsule ;
then the germ must start ; the blade appears and divides ;
the bud must swell and the leaf unfold ; the colors be
stamped, and thus by slow degrees and successive
stages, the creation of this little being is wrought, and
in that production all the agencies of nature conspire.
The earth must feed it with rich juices, the clouds must
water it with fertile dews, the air must quicken it with
subtle gases, the sun must paint it with delicate shad-
ing, and all the stars must unite to hold up the planet
from which it springs. If so much time and such an
array of means are required to bring a single flower to

134 ATJTOGRAPHICAly NOTKS.

the summit of its being, how many ages must have
glided by before the earth, with its mountains and its
forests, could reach the condition in which man first
found it ? When material creation proceeds so slowly,
shall the moral creation, the genesis of truth and good-
ness in human society, be accomplished by instantane-
ous reform ?

We may preach and persuade ; we may agitate and
legislate ; we may plant and water ; but the fruit must
wait the fulness of time. The patient method of divine
operation rebukes the impatient zeal which thinks to
create in a day what time and care alone can perfect.
This generation will not see its maturing ; our children
will not see it. Ages must elapse before the ideal of a
moral community can be fulfilled." — The Primitive
World, p. ij — 75.

Hence it is evident that moral reforms do, of neces-
sity, move slowly. Inveterate vicious habits seldom
change ; we have to wait till their victims die out, and
the ranks are too often filled by new recruits mean-
while. But apart from this discouraging view, there is
abundant cause for encouragement.

Within the last decade, prohibitory constitutions and
local option laws have been adopted. The active
workers have been quadrupled in numbers and in
earnestness, and the weapons of their warfare rendered
more effective.

Last but not the least, the boundary line between
temperance and intemperance has been clearly ascer-
tained and laid down upon the plot. The struggle in
which you are engaged will be long and hard, but the
victory will be yours since ' ' Virtue is invincible and
Truth omnipotent. ' '

E. MlCHENKR.

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 35

THE POWER OF APPETITE.

The story has been told of a certain general — I will
call him Gen. Dix — who had contracted an appetite for
strong drink. A friend visited him to warn him of his
danger. When the object of the visit was madeknowTn,
the General said : ' ' Hear me first a few words and
then you may proceed. I am sensible that I have a
strong craving for spirituous liquors ; I am sensible
that the gratification of this appetite will lead to the
loss of reputation, of property, of domestic happiness, to
the disgrace of my family, to premature death, and to
the inevitable and eternal loss of my immortal soul !
Now with all this conviction upon my mind and flash-
ing over my conscience like lightning, if I still continue
to gratify my craving for strong drink, and am not per-
suaded to abandon the habit, do you think that any-
thing you can say will do it ? " The friend took his
hat and retired without a word.

Now this incident may never have happened ; or
Gen . Dix may have been a brave and heroic soldier who
could lead an assault in the face of a hundred cannon
and ten thousand sharp-shooters without flinching,
but he had lost the will power to control his appetite.
This condition has been represented by tens of thou-
sands who have trod the same bitter path to the same
bitter end.

Now has all this terrible experience of the past no
lesson of instruction for the future ? The same power
which dragged Gen. Dix and his myriad followers down
to perdition is still in full operation. Is it not then our
imperative duty, for our own safety as well as for the
safety of others, to seek for the cause and by every

136 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

practical means remove it out of the way. The cause
is too obvious to be mistaken ; it is tippling and dram-
drinking, and the habit is formed gradually, but more
or less rapidly in accordance with surrounding circum-
stances. It does not come with the violence of an
earthquake or the suddenness of a lightning stroke.
No, you see its approach, you voluntarily place your-
self in its track, defiant of the danger, till like Gen.
Dix, you have lost the power to free yourselves from its
destructive toils. The remedy is no less obvious than
the cause — Cut off the supply. Remove the cause and
the effect will cease. Prohibition, entire prohibition of
the manufacture and sale of all intoxicants, except for
purely legitimate purposes, is the only practical means
to this desired end. Let us try it.

THE GRANTING OF TAVERN LICENSES A
JUDICIAL FUNCTION.

While I am free to express my high admiration of
the judicial administration of Judge Butler, his legal
acumen, his inflexible integrity, his scrupulous regard
for justice, I regret to find that he has fallen into what
I consider to be a serious error in relation to the granting
of tavern licenses.

As reported in the Local News of May 19th, Judge

is made to say that many letters on the subject

from both sides had been received by himself and Judge

, but they had of course been thrown aside

unread. To address such communications was a mis-
take or worse, though he supposed generally made
ignorantly. They would never pay any attention to
applications not made to the court while in session.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 1 37

This l ' mistake or worse ' ' is not defined, but I suppose
may be readily understood to refer to the impropriety of
allowing interested parties to tamper with the judicial
proceedings of the Court. Now, it is no new assump-
tion to call the granting of tavern licenses a judicial
function, nor need we wonder that jurors themselves
should sometimes fall into this error ; but with all due
deference to the authorities, I must deny that the duty
in question is a judicial one.

The license law, as I understand it, is designed to
provide safe and comfortable accommodations for stran-
gers and travellers. It is both permissive and restric-
tive. It assumes to exercise a salutary discrimination.
It virtually submits the three following propositions for
the consideration and determination of the granting
power, wherever that may be vested in each and every
case :

First — Is the licensed house needed to ' ' accommo-
date the public and entertain strangers and travellers ? ' '

Second — Is the applicant ' ' a person of good repute
for honesty and temperance ? ' '

Third — Is he or she ' ' well provided with house room
and conveniences for the accommodation of strangers
and travellers ? ' '

Howrever important it ma}^ be that these questions
should be duly considered and correctly answered, they
are by no means legal or judicial questions, and no force
of circumstances, not even the legislative investment of
the power to grant tavern licenses, can raise it to the
dignity of a judicial function. It may be made a social,
a moral, but never a judicial consideration to grant or to
withhold the license asked for. The Legislature could
have conferred the power on any other tribunal. It has

138 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

conferred it on county auditors, on license boards chosen
by the townships. Their proceedings could hardly be
called judicial. But if we must be cursed with a license
board, if licenses to sell liquor must be granted, the last
mentioned method of constituting it would seem the
preferable one on account of the members being residents
in the immediate neighborhood and familiar with the
circumstances of the individual case.

The question then recurs, was there cause for the
implied condemnation contained in the phrase, " a mis-
take or worse ? " I think not.

I have thus briefly expressed my views, not for the
purpose of fault-finding, but to invite the attention of
the reader to a serious examination of the whole subject.

THE LICENSE QUESTION AGAIN.

Laws, like the scriptures, may be said to possess both
a literal and a spiritual meaning, and like them, the
letter killeth but the spirit giveth life. Lawyers may
wrangle about the letter, but it is the solemn duty of the
Judge diligently to seek for and inflexibly to maintain
the spirit of the law which is justice.

Liquor laws, so far from being intended to give occa-
sion for and promote the sale of intoxicating drinks,
were originally designed to prevent the disorders, the
drunkenness and dangers resulting from such sale.
Hence it restricted all tippling houses and dram shops,
only permitting their restricted sale by such trust-
worthy citizens who were known to be " of good repute
for honesty and temperance. ' '

The spirit of the law still seeks to promote this benev-
olent purpose, but its letter has been shamefully prosti-

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 39

tuted by a corrupt legislature and a too servile judiciary
to the unholy object of filling the coffers of a few demor-
alized rum-sellers — and possibly their own. Thus we
cannot fail to perceive that the law, from its inception,
was strongly restrictive and only permissive.

While it positively prohibited the sale by all others,
it barely permitted it by those whom it selected as
worthy of the important trust, and then under many
restrictions and responsibilities. The sale of liquor was
then scarcely more than an exceptional incident, not a
specific grant of privilege.

The houses were licensed for the entertainment of
strangers and travellers and were required to be so con-
ducted as to afford them safe and comfortable accommo-
dation, and this was expected to make the business
remunerative. When and wherever this ceased to be
the case, the spirit of the law would have withheld the
license.

Unhappily the letter has been permitted to take the
ascendency. Indeed, a mighty change has come over
us — a change in the habits of the people, a change in
the modes of conveyance, a change in the lines of travel
which have superseded the necessity for many of the
licensed houses of entertainment and left them without
their legitimate means of support. Coincident with
these changes, there has unhappily been a change of
legislature, a change of court administration, and a
change of the purpose for which licenses are sought for
and granted. Hence the same houses with a host of
others continue to be licensed, and for what ? Too often,
it would seem for drunkard manufactories, criminal
manufactories, to replenish our poor-houses and jails
and to prepare victims for the gallows. The benevolent

140 AUTOGRAPHIC AIv NOTES.

and penal institutions named — indeed suffering human-
ity everywhere bear witness to this appaling fact. How
far legislators and courts are responsible for these laws
and their mal-administration is a question not for them-
selves onty, but for us, the people, to consider.

We are told that civilization is progression. That
the intellectual, moral and religious elements of a man's
nature are being constantly more and more developed.
That poor humanity is rising up from her polluted
depths, regenerated and fitted for a higher and holier
sphere. This boasted progress should inspire the hope
that the sale of intoxicating drink will yet be further
and still further restricted until it will only be allowed
across the druggists' counter and strictly limited to
medicinal and art uses ; when it will only be found
upon his shelves by the side of strychnia, atropia and
verairia, with the same cautionary label — poison —
indelibly stamped upon it, and when both buyer and
seller will be held to a strict responsibility for every
overt or covert violation of their trust.

EXTRACTS FROM LICENSE LAW.

1 7 10. "No person shall hereafter keep any public
inn, tavern, ale house, tippling house, dram shop, vic-
tualling house or public house of entertainment, unless
such person shall first be recommended by the justices
in the respective county courts to the lieutenant gov-
ernor, etc., for a license so to do."

1 72 1. * ' No person other than those qualified under
the law shall presume, under any pretext whatsoever,
to sell, barter for or deliver any- wine, rum, brandy or
other spirits ; beer, cider or other mixed or strong liq-

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 141

uors which shall be used or drunk within their houses
or sheds, or which shall be with their knowledge, privity
or consent used or drunk in any shelter place or woods
near or adjacent to them, by companies of negroes, ser-
vants or others, or to retail or sell to any person what-
ever any rum, brandy or other spirits by less quantity
than one quart, nor any wine by less than one gallon,
nor any beer, ale or cider by less than two gallons, and
the same to be delivered to one person, and at the same
time without any collusion or fraud. ' '

1783. "If an}^ person shall hereafter retail and sell less
than one quart of rum, wine, brandy or other spirits to
be delivered at one time and to one person, without
having first obtained license, he shall forfeit and pay
for every such offense ten pounds."

1794. " Whereas a great abundance of taverns and
public houses for the vending of spirituous liquors have
been found to promote habits of idleness and debauchery,
to the end that the number thereof be determined by the
measure of real utility and necessity, be it enacted, etc."

1710. snante, (1794) (1856). " Every person intending
to apply for a license shall file with the clerk of the
court of quarter sessions his or her petition at least three
weeks before forwarding the same to the court, and the
said clerk shall cause notice thereof to be published
three times in two of the newspapers of the county
in case of hotels, inns, taverns and eating houses.
The petition shall embrace a certificate signed by at
least twelve reputable citizens of the township, setting
forth that the same is necessary to accommodate the
public and entertain strangers and travellers, and that
such person is of good repute for honesty and temper-
ance, and is well provided with house room and conve-

142 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

niences for the accommodation of strangers and trav-
ellers."

1858. " Licenses to vend liquors shall be granted to
citizens of the United States of temperate habits and
good moral character whenever the requirements of the
law are complied with, provided that nothing herein
contained shall prohibit the court from hearing other
evidence, and, provided, that after hearing evidence as
aforesaid, the court shall grant or refuse a license
according to evidence. ' '

17 18. "The justices of the peace of the respective
counties shall have full power four times in the year to
set such reasonable prices on all liquors retailed in pub-
lic houses, andprovender for horses in public stables, as
they shall see fit, which prices shall be proclaimed by
the crier and fixed upon the court house doors for pub-
lic view. ' '

1856. ' * The courts shall fix by rule or standing order,
a time at which applications for licenses shall be heard,
at which time all persons applying or making objections
to applications shall be heard by evidence, petition,
remonstrance or counsel. ' '

1858. " No person shall be licensed to keep a hotel,
inn or tavern in any city or county town, which shall
not have for the exclusive use of travellers, at least four
bed rooms and eight beds ; nor in any other part of the
state at least two bed rooms and four beds for such use. ' '

1856. " Before license shall be granted, each person
applying for the same shall give a bond to the common-
wealth with two sufficient sureties in the sum of one
thousand dollars, or five hundred dollars as the case
may be, for the faithful observance of all laws, etc."

172 1. " No person keeping a public house or inn shall

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 143

trust or give credit to any person whatever for liquors
or other inn or tavern reckoning in any sum exceeding
twenty shillings, nor shall receive, harbor, entertain or
trust any minor under the age of twenty-one years, nor
any servant knowing them to be such, or after having
been warned or cautioned to the contrary."

1858. " No license to vend liquors shall be transfer-
able or confer any right to sell in any other house than
the one mentioned therein, nor shall any bar be under-
let by the person licensed. ' '

1854. "Willfully furnishing intoxicating drinks to
any person of known intemperate habits, to a minor or
to an insane person for a beverage, shall be deemed a
misdemeanor, and the willful furnishing of intoxicating
drinks, as a beverage, to any person when drunk or
intoxicated shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof the offender shall be fined not less
than ten nor more than fifty dollars, and undergo an
imprisonment of not less than ten nor more than sixty
days."

1856. "Any person who shall sell intoxicating liq-
uors to any person who shall drink the same on the
premises and become intoxicated, shall, besides his
liability to damages, be fined five dollars for every such
offense. ' '

Not having access to a law library, I am not able to
furnish a connected abstract of the license law and cor-
relative legislation for regulating the sale of intoxicating
drinks. This would be tedious and perhaps uninter-
esting to many readers, but it is of deep and painful
interest that we should trace the downward course of
legislation and judicial action in the premises.

E. M.

144 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTKS.

THE LICENSE QUESTION CONTINUED.

I have already alluded to Judge assertion

that many letters had been received by himself and

Judge , but they had been thrown aside unread.

That to address such communications was a mistake or
worse, though he supposed, generally made ignorantly.

This rebuff is not new, whether it was merited or not,
and whatever that portentous ' ' worse ' ' may have been
intended to signify, it may be worthy of a little consid-
eration how far the position assumed is a proper one.

More than thirty years ago a person holding a tem-
perance license applied for a license to sell liquors. A
remonstrance signed by 68 votable citizens of the town-
ship and another signed by 180 women of the immedi-
ate neighborhood — many of them the mothers, wives,
sisters and daughters of intemperate men, imploring the
court not to allow that which had been the cause of
destitution and wretchedness to many of them, were
offered but were not accepted. Some queries were then
addressed to the president judge asking the position of
the court and how to approach it. He indignantly
refused to answer the inquiries, saying, ' ' The idea of an
association of citizens proposing interrogatories to the
court is certainly a novel one ; indeed, so far as I am
informed, this is the first instance in our jurisprudence
where such a course has been even thought of. Were it
admissible, no bounds could be set to popular inter-
ference with judicial action. ' '

To this it was replied that the granting of tavern
licenses is not a judicial act, that it does not require
any special legal knowledge beyond what any intelli-
gent person is possessed of, but only an integrity of

EZRA 'MICHENER, M. D. 145

purpose and a personal acquaintance with the situation
— the petitioner and his vouchers — and the circum-
stances of the surrounding neighborhood.

If licenses were to be granted, the power to grant
must be vested somewhere, and the legislature had
vested it in the judges of the courts, but not necessarily
so. They might have referred it to a popular vote or
placed it in the hands of the women who have drunken
husbands (a very safe investment). And since that
day the power has actually been lodged in the county
auditors, in a Board of License chosen by the township
and in a popular vote for each county. Now I do not
suppose that our judges would call the granting of
licenses by any of these methods a judicial service, yet
it is obviously the very same function by whomsoever
it may be performed. Premising the political maxim,
' ' The will of the people is the source and the happiness
of the people, the end of a well constituted government, ' >
it was urged that we, the sovereign people, have an
indefeasible right to make our wills known to our func-
tionaries, without necessarily tarnishing the purity of
the ermine or impairing the brilliancy of the purple, and
certainly without popular interference with judicial
action when the whole proceeding is extra-judicisl.

If judges, like other men, hold the scale of justice
with a trembling hand, it must be admitted that popular
interference might seriously obstruct the proper admin-
istration of justice, and I think it is no less admissible
that if the board of license, however constituted, could
consult with and ascertain the motives and wishes of
every person interested in the grant, it would be all the
better qualified to exercise the high and responsible dis-
cretionary trust which the people and the law have-
vested in them.

146 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

Had the judge in the case alluded to, after hearing
the petition and the certificate of endorsers, consulted
with and heard the objections of sixty-eight farmers and
other sober citizens of the township, who as tax-payers,
were required to foot the bill ; had he listened to the
urgent appeals of one hundred and eighty respectable
women for his sympathy and official aid, to protect them
and their sisters from the horrors of destitution, starva
tion and outrage, it cannot for one moment be supposed
that he would have been less qualified or less disposed
to administer the law with justice and impartiality.
Nor is it likely, when thus made acquainted with not
only the facts in the paper, but also with the facts in
the neighborhood, that he would have granted to the
petitioner the legal right to make drunkards, and this
was certainly the only thing asked for which he did not
already possess. If our judges had read the " many
letters ' ' addressed to them, it is possible they might
have been saved from making the same blunder ; but
they did not and we have to take the consequences for
better or for worse.

CAUSE AND EFFECT.

It was a happy thought to send us the West Chester
Local News. West Chester is the focus where legisla-
tion for the county centers. West Chester holds the
records which tell the experiences of the past and teach
lessons of wisdom for the future, hence the West Chester
Local News must always be a welcome visitor to us
Chester countains, so long as it continues to bring to us
the local news of West Chester, judiciously selected
and correctly rendered. But to do this is an arduous

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. 147

task where there is so much more to be rejected than
the budget will contain. Hence it often happens that
just such items as we are anxiously looking for have
been left out, and disappointment ensues. Now while
you editors profess very generously to cater for us, your
patrons, we, selfishly if you please, foot your bills for
our own gratification — not to be disappointed. Hence
we feel the necessity and claim the right of informing
you what kind of local information we are most in want
of.

Our laws are very much like the chameleon; they
continually change their colors in harmony with the
complexion of the law makers ; yesterday they were
green, to-day as blue as Yankeedom, to-morrow they
may present a hue unknown to the rainbow. When
they come down to their judicial foci, they impart the
same chameleon-like character to the judiciary. This
changeable feature of our legislature and judicial admin-
istration, necessarily works out certain results which it
is important we should all properly understand. Thus
it has been known from time immemorial that the use
of intoxicating drinks and the consequent drunkenness
were the prolific parents of poverty, misery and crime
of almost every kind.

To mitigate these evils our fathers made laws prohib-
iting the sale of intoxicating drinks except by a few
persons legally certified and approved by the court to
be "of good repute for honesty and temperance, ' ' and
subject to many and severe restrictions, but the chame-
leon changed color and the plan proved a failure. When
the skin became blue instead of white, "honesty and
temperance ' ' changed meaning. Again the reptile
changed color, and licenses were withheld and the sale

148 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

made a penal offence under local option. But after a
trial of two years it was found that drunkenness and its
consequent evils had greatly increased, that the more
people could not get whiskey the more they drank of it.
This discovery, be it remembered, was made by the
hotel- keepers, and they probably had the best right to
know. Nobody else ever did know it. This appalling
discovery suddenly changed them to temperance men
again, and as good templars ought to do, they warned
the legislature of the moral mischief it had wrought
through local option and a modicum of their argument
served to diffuse the same temperance green hue over
that august assembly. Under whatever persuasives,
the legislature rudely cut the experiment of local option
short by a repeal of the law and the restoration of the
license system. Now here is a conflict of opinion and
interests, unnecessary and unprofitable, which we should
be able to reconcile, and the Local News of West Ches-
ter ought to and probably does contain data which
would assist us in affecting such a reconciliation. What
we want is the statistics of the alms-house, the prison
and the court, so far as they relate to the evils of intem-
perance during the three periods which have been
mentioned.

A Distinct Proposition.

1. L,et the hotel keepers and the good templars of
Chester County each select two commissioners, intelli-
gent and trustworthy persons to make a united and
careful examination of the records of the alms house,
prison and criminal courts for two years of the former
license period, for the two years of local option, and for
the existing license term, and make a true and faithful

EZRA MICHEXER, M. D. 149

report of the facts which may be thus developed, over
their own proper names.

2. If either party named shall decline to make
appointment, let the committee of the other party pro-
ceed to make the examination and report.

3. If, in the course of the investigation any question
shall arise which the said commissioners cannot settle,
let it be amicably and ex-officially referred to the pres-
ident judge of criminal court for his advice and deter-
mination.

Just here the West Chester Local News steps in with
a little bit of the local news of West Chester, viz :
1 ' The rapidly increasing number of inmates within the
wTalls of our prison unmistakably suggests to the author-
ities that something must soon be done to provide addi-
tional quarters if the demand for them continues."

It will be observed that this item of West Chester
news contains a very significant "if". This "if"
necessarily suggests further inquiry ; must the demand
continue ? How long will the people suffer it to con-
tinue ? And again, why this rapid increase of inmates ?
Was it during local option or since the recent license
period ? Strong reasons, surely, for the adoption of the
resolutions here offered. If it should be found that our
pauper and criminal catalogues were abbreviated during
local option and that they have rapidly increased during
the present license term, it would become an important
moral and financial question, whether it would not be
better and more economical to clip the wings of the
destroying angel and thus reduce the number of inmates
rather than to build a larger prison.

E. M.
Tough kenamon, 10th of 1st mo., 1876.

150 AUTOGRAPHIC AI, NOTKS.

A FEW FACTS.

1 . It is a fact that the purpose of the original license
law was to provide safe and comfortable accommoda-
tion for strangers and travellers by a strict and guarded
inquiry into the fitness of the applicants, and to pro-
hibit all places of entertainment where they might be
unsafe and uncomfortable.

2. It is a fact that this sacred trust has been lodged in
our courts, and they in common with other executive
officers, are responsible for its proper performance.

3. It is a fact that the license laws have invested the
courts with ample authority to inquire and absolute
discretion to determine.

4. It is a fact that progressive changes in the condi-
tion of the country, in the habits of the people and in
the mode and lines of travel have rendered many of the
former houses, even as places of entertainment, uncalled
for and superfluous.

5. It is a fact that with few exceptions, those houses
are still licensed and can only be made remunerative
as legalized groggeries, as a resort of the idle, the intem-
perate and vicious ; destructive alike to the morality,
the good order and the prosperity of the districts where
the blighting curse rests.

6. It is a fact that through the perversion of the law
and the courts, the land abounds in legal and author-
ized manufactories of drunkards, of paupers and of crimi-
nals of every grade.

7. It is a fact that from eighty to ninety per cent, of
our drunkards, our paupers, our criminals, have been
brought into such conditions either directly or indi-
rectly by those corrupt and corrupting dens. L,et our
almshouse, our jail, our court testify to this.

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 151

8. It is a fact consequent upon this condition, that a
very large proportion of our heavy taxation for county
purposes is caused by this insufferable burden. In a
neighboring county, where no such manufactories have
been permitted, the almshouse was reported without
paupers, the jail without criminals and the State Attor-
ney without indictments for the grand jury. No won-
der that lawyers are scarce down there.

9. It is a fact that the courts have sheltered them-
selves under the specious pretense that ' ' the facts were
in the papers," and where they are in proper form that
they have no discretionary power. Happily the
supreme court has brushed away this cobweb and
thrown the whole weight of responsibility upon the
courts where it properly belongs. " Let them take up
the stumbling block out of the way of my people. ' ' Is.

57, H.

10. It is a fact that very " many if not most of the
contentions, violations of order and the graver crimes,
originate under the influence, if not under the roof of
houses where intoxicating liquors are sold."

11. It is a fact that the lawyers derive a large portion
of their professional business from this source, the emolu-
ments of which have greatly increased the number of
attorneys in our county towns. Cut off this source
and from the 75, more or less, lawyers in our modern
Athens, we might probably cut off the 5, the remaining
7 being adequate to the legitimate business of the
county.

12. It is a fact that lawyers are not blind to their
own interests, nor ignorant from whence their bread and
butter comes, nor are they so far exempt from the com-
mon infirmities of our human nature as voluntarily to

152 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

lay this sacrifice upon the altar of humanity, benevo-
lence and love of the brotherhood of man.

Ergo. — It is a fact that these supernumerary lawyers
oppose temperance legislation and present one of the
chief obstacles to the progress of this great moral
reformation.

May we look to the ' ' law associations ' ' for redress of
our grievances ? The bold attitude which they have
assumed to direct and control legislative action, "to
prevent or promote such legislation, or proposed legis-
lation as they may think best for the public interest, ' '
is, to say the least, a dangerous and an alarming one,
being alike potent for evil as for good.

Have we, the people of Pennsylvania, indeed come to
this ? Are we ready to abandon our right to choose
our lawyers and to direct them what laws to make ?
Are we prepared to disband the legislature and allow
the voluntary and self constituted law associations to do
our law making ? Shall we accept their assumption
that lawyers are the proper law makers ? I trow not.

A FRIENDLY LETTER.

To J. S. Futhey, Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Chester

County, as the representative of his judicial class.
Dear Friend :

While I would not impugn thy motives, I claim the right to
examine and it may be to criticise thy official determinations in
relation to liquor licenses.

To me it is equal cause of surprise and regret that thou should
have felt required to grant some sixty licenses for hotels and half
the number for eating houses, more especially the latter. It
appears that seven hotel licenses were denied and an eating house
license granted instead. This would seem to indicate that eating
houses are less pernicious in their tendencies than hotels. This

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 153

is considered by many persons to be a questionable position,
deserving of serious thought.

I shall only present the facilities they afford and the influence
which they exert on the drinking habits of the people. Indeed, it
is well known that in a large proportion of the cases the drink is the
purpose, the use for which they are provided.

What is drunkenness? It is a morbid condition of the human
organism resulting from the combined operation of primary
factors.

1. The habit acquired by frequent indulgence in the use of
alcoholic and other narcotic stimulants, tobacco, opium, etc

2. The appetite which is created by the frequent indulgence in
their use.

3. A will power too feeble to resist their solicitations whenever
an opportunity for their indulgence presents.

A hotel may be defined as a fashionable liquor saloon where
amateur and gentlemen drinkers congregate for their drunken
orgies ; a place for the accommodation of full grown and master
workmen, boys, drunken men and trash being carefully excluded,
unless, as we too often see, there is another bar down in the base-
ment expressly for the excluded classes.

An eating house is the anti-chamber of the liquor saloon, or
more properly the primary school where boys of all ages and condi-
tions, children indeed of both sexes, of all colors, at all hours,
receive instruction in the rudiments of drunkenness, to fit them
for promotion into the hotel or the basement class as they may be
qualified.

Here they are carefully fed. with milk, not with meat, for they are
not able to bear it ; just a little wine, a little beer, a little cider.
To the weak or hesitating the draught is modified with a little
sugar or a sweet cake. To the strong it is stiffened with a whiskey
stick. He must be a dull scholar who would not learn his lesson
in such a school, and be able to obtain the honors of a diploma in
the basement of a whiskey saloon. Judge Clayton seems to have
made the discovery that to this end ' ' the license laws are violated
with impunity."

Now I would seriously ask whether the liquor saloon or the eat-
ing house is most demoralizing to a community ? The one may

154 AUTOGRAPHIC A I, NOTES.

claim a compensating service for by killing off the old stock of
loafers who have become an unmitigated burden and nuisance,
while the other has the merit of training victims for the slaughter.

Now to Judge Futhey we owe our thanks for the discretion
used in denying liquor licenses, also for dropping out two eating
houses and bringing seven of the former down to the lower rank,
and there seems no obvious reason why the same discretion might
not have been extended further, and if there is a tithe of truth-
fulness in the views here presented great good might have resulted.

The experience of my friend, Judge Clayton, has enabled him to
reach these wise conclusions : That drunkenness cannot be legis-
lated out of existence by licensing the sale of liquors, that the
license laws are violated with impunity and that they cannot be
enforced.

Quoting from the same authority, "As long as man exists in
his present state some men will be found too weak to control their
appetites and will use stimulants. ' ' Now would it not be wise, I
appeal to the judges, to adopt the plan of Maine, Kansas and Iowa,
and cut off the supply, removing thus temptation from our weaker
brethern.

Prohibition is a cosmopolite, it grows with equal vigor on the
bleak hills of Maine and the fertile savannas of Kansas and Iowa,
and when fairly introduced will be found as congenial to Pennsyl-
vania soil as the whiskey weed or the poisonous tobacco.

May God speed its early introduction.
Most sincerely,

E. MlCHEXER.

Sylvania, 28th of 3d Mo., '82.

TOBACCO IN SCHOOLS.

Dear Local : — A friend has handed me a slip cut from
a prominent newspaper of a neighboring county, headed
"Educational Matters," and signed with the initials
W. W. W., as County Superintendent. The paper
embraces some points of broader interest to those who
are interested in educational matters. He says : " One
of our leading teachers recently asked us what she

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 155

should do to induce a large boy who attended her
school to abandon the use of tobacco ? Another lady
has since asked us whether she is required to tolerate a
pupil who is so penetrated and permeated by tobacco
as to be offensive. After admitting the pert-
inency of the questions, and acknowledging the diffi-
culty of answering them satisfactorily, he says, " The
School Department at Harrisburg has decided that
pupils can be required to present themselves in the
school room in a decent condition, and that if they chew
tobacco and spit, they can be required to furnish them-
selves with spittoons ; but it does not attempt to
describe exactly what constitutes a decent condition/ '
Here our friend, seemingly in search of some tangible
support, suddenly jumps to sumptuary laws. "Sump-
tuary laws are distasteful to all Americans. They are
considered abridgments of liberty and are "very difficult
of execution. The community will not tolerate the
enforcement of sumptuary laws except on the ground
of extreme necessity. We are of opinion then that no
te'acher can be justified in refusing to instruct a pupil
or in any way abridging his privileges because of his
use of tobacco. He cannot be debarred the use of
school except by action of the board of directors. This
decision may be in accordance with the ruling of the
school department, which is only another instance of
the assumption of undue control over the proper training
of children. It is mere puerile nonsense for the depart-
ment to talk of each pupil having a spittoon in the
school rooms. Asa lady remarked, whenever the spit-
toon comes in I shall go out.

But what have the requirments of decency or the
restraints of morality in the training of children either
in the family or in the school, to do with sumptuary

156 AUTOGRAPHIC A I, NOTES.

laws ? If you start out upon that line of argument, and
admit the tobacco chewers, you surely cannot exclude
the smokers. The odor of thirty cigars in a school
room would be exhilarating. And other pupils have
imbibed the equally inveterate habit of whiskey drink-
ing. You cannot deny them, it would be sumptuary to
do that. Others again claim the right of self-defence and
always carry a revolver ready for use in that way. As
no one questions this right, they must be tolerated in
the same manner.

Now, kind reader, open the door just a little and look
into this school. Here you see each pupil with a spit-
toon at his feet, a cigar in his mouth with the possible
flagon of whiskey and loaded revolver on the desk
before him, while the atmosphere of the room is filled
to suffocation with the smoke of tobacco. Alas, is
such the best education which the most enlightened,
intelligent and free nation of the earth is capable of giv-
ing to its children ? Is it not time that we should pause
and consider whither we are drifting ?

ADDED EVIDENCE.

The following interesting letter from Judge Williams
of Potter County, was read by the Hon. Wm. E. Dodge
in the Pan-Presbyterian Council, recently held in Phil-
adelphia :

COUDERSPORT, POTTER CoUNTY.

u The traffic in intoxicating drinks dnring the early history of
the county was like that in the counties adjoining except, if pos-
sible, drunkenness was more prevalent. About twenty years ago
attention was drawn to the subject and the people elected associate
judges pledged to refuse all applications ior license. These officers
were elected for five years. When that term had expired the
issue was again made upon the election of associate judges and

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 57

was decided as before, by the election of the anti-license ticket.
Before this second term had expired the county was represented in
the legislature by the late Hon. John S. Mann, who procured the
passage of a law prohibiting the granting of license in the county,
which law is still enforced. For twenty years there has not been
a licensed hotel or restaurant within the confines of this county.
There are enough of both for the accommodation of the public,
but in none of them is there a public bar. The sale of liquor is
therefore conducted at great disadvantage, clandestinely and in
very limited amount. As to results, I can say that while the
county has been steadily growing in popularity and business?
pauperism and crime have steadily decreased. For the past rive
years the county jail has been fully one-half of the time without
any other inmates than the keeper and his family. Twice within
the last ten years I have, at the regular term of court, discharged
the jury on the second day of the term without their having been
called to consider a single case of any description. The effect of
the system is felt in many ways : taxes are reduced, the business
of the criminal court greatly diminished, industry and sobriety
take the place of idleness and dissipation, and intelligence and
morality are advanced.

But one effort has been made to repeal this local law, and that
failed by reason of the decided protest of a majority of the tax-
payers of the county. I am glad you are going to stir our church
on this subject. Vice of any sort only asks the churches to let it
alone ; grant it toleration and it will take care of itself. Virtue
must be aggressive or nothing. ' '

What a noble example Potter county here presents !
How easy, how practical, how sure of success are the
means which enabled her to cast off the deadly incubus
of intemperance and ruin, rising to a higher and
nobler position in the scale of progressive civilization.
Who will be foremost to follow her brilliant example ?
Though the masses may supinely continue to wince
and squirm under the crushing weight of taxation,
poverty and crime without an effort to remove the
burden, the example of Potter county will infuse new

153

AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

energy into the friends of temperance and good order,
leading them on to more earnest and aggressive
measures.

At the risk of seeming anxious to repeat, it may be
instructive in this connection to compare the condition
of Potter with that of Chester county :

POTTER.
During the early history of
the county, the traffic in intox-
icating drinks was like that in
adjoining counties, except that
drunkenness was, if possible,
more prevalent.

For twenty years there has
not been a licensed hotel or
restaurant within the confines
of the county.

Pauperism and crime have
steadily decreased. Industry
and sobriety take the place of
idleness and dissipatioD.

Taxes are reduced.

For the past five years the
jail has been fully half the time
without other inmates than the
keeper and his family.

The business of the criminal
court is greatly diminished.
Twice within the last ten years
I have discharged the jury on
the second day of court without
their having been called to con-
sider a single case.

CHESTER.
The constantly full and
crowded condition of our jail
and almshouse, and the pro-
longed and adjourned sessions
of our criminal courts testify to
our present condition.

On a certain Tuesday morn-
ing of last year, the court grant-
ed sixty -two hotel and twenty-
one eating-house licenses ; 83
licenses in one morning.

Pauperism and crime have
rapidly increased.

Idleness and dissipation are
alarmingly common.

Taxes are steadily increased.

The grand jury for the term
now sitting, reported on sixty-
three bills from the States At-
torney. Of this number they
have returned as true bills
forty-eight, and ignored fifteen.

Such a picture might incline our people (except the
lawyers) to go over to Potter.

EZRA IUICHEXER, M. D. 1 59

Experience teaches knowledge, and the friends of
sobriety and good order have paid a generous price for
what they have learned. E. M.

Sylvania, yth of Second Mo., 1881.

AX OPEX LETTER.

To the President of the Chester County Association for promoting a Pro-
hibitory Amendment.
Respected Friend :

Some months ago the " Reverends " of the land surprised the
peorjle by taking hold of the temperance question with apparent
earnestness and unanimity, and adopted a system of organiza-
tion which promised to develop and utilize the moral and
religions, if not the political power and influence of the State in
favor of a prohibitory amendment to the constitution. It is true
that some conservatives doubted, while others had sad forebodings
of the result : but the rxLan seemed so plausible that it was gener-
ally acquiesced in and by common consent was left to those who
had assumed to manage it.

The convulsed mountain has at last produced a mouse.
It was not enough that our boasted government of liberty and
equal rights should have disfranchised and alienated the larger
and better portion of our people — the women — by denying them
the right of suffrage and thus classing them with aliens from China
and the Fiji Islands. Xo, the pitiful petition which has been
produced allows none but voters to attach their names to it.
Thus three-fourths of the numerical, and a vastly larger propor-
tion of the actual moral and religious power, weight and influence
of the population, has been thrown away.

It must be obvious even to the cursory observer that women are
much more attentive to their moral and religious duties than men
are. yet a few days ago a number of men — clergymen — niet to
discuss the question how to employ women in the service of the
church. Only give them the liberty and they will soon settle,
practically, that question.

Again let me ask. of what avail have been church and preaching
if the vouth of both sexes, from fourteen to twentv-one vears, are so

l6o AUTO GRAPHIC AI, NOTES.

ignorant of their duties as to be incompetent to express their
sentiments on a subject which of all others has cost very many of
their class the most privation, personal suffering, degradation and
ultimate ruin. Why then was the promise to this class withheld ?
Will those who know please answer ? And I appeal to their con-
sciences to say whether it is not still their duty to provide the
means for the general expression of the public will. E. M.

THE TEMPERANCE LADDER.

It should not have seemed strange had all those who
have professed to wear the badge of true discipleship
with Christ — the love of the brotherhood — borne a united
and consistent testimony against the use of intoxicating
drinks. Unhappily it has not been so. Drunkenness
has been as a foul blot on the social page, and quack
moralists have devised many inefficient remedies, after
the habit was formed, and confirmed to stay the spread-
ing leprosy. Failing to do this, they have cut off the
offending member, but seem not to have inquired into
nor understood the cause of the malady, nor used any
precaution to avoid the contagion which it diffused.

Friends claim to have been pioneers in the advocacy
of temperance — the first to hold up and maintain a
practical testimony against intemperance. This may be,
and I believe is true, and I would not detract from their
merits ; but if I mistake not a true and impartial history
of the temperance movement is yet to be written.

Pioneers as they were, it was a long time before they,
as a religious body, could raise their testimony higher
than has been indicated. They continued to use intox-
icating drinks, apparently without recognizing the fact
that it was the use which led into the abuse ; the drink-
ing which led into drunkenness. They seemed not to

EZRA MICHBNKR, M. D. l6l

have learned the maxim : ' ' Remove the cause and the
effect will cease."

Before proceeding, I wish the reader to understand
and constantly remember that the discipline of Friends
very naturally separates into three distinct forms :

i. Advice, for the preservation of all its members.

2. Admonition, by overseers or other Friends to the
erring.

3. Censure, upon the conduct of the gross transgres-
sor. These several grades of progress may properly
constitute so many steps or rounds in the construction,
of the following

Temperance Ladder .
/. Round. — Drunkenness. Advisory.

1668. — "That Friends do keep in their testimony
against all profane, idle tippling and taking tobacco in
coffee-houses and ale-houses, which is an ill savor." —
George Fox.

About this time numerous are the cases recorded on
the books, of drunkenness, fraud, gambling in ale-
houses, beating of wives, etc. Thus we read of an ap-
pointment to visit "old Patin, the smith, about his
getting drunk and beating his daughter." — Lo?idon
Magazine, 230.

1 ' Paid Gabriel Erwood, for wine for Friends who
came to his house after meeting." Again, " For wine
for Friends that declared at this meeting. ' ' Such bills
seem to have been settled quarterly for some twenty or
thirty shillings." — See London Friends' Meeting.

1698.— ' Agreed by this meeting that Richard Almond
be desired and empowered to provide some wine for the
refreshment of laboring Friends after meetings, etc. At,

l62

AUTOGRAPHICAL, NOTKS.

a later period the meeting was charged for "twelve
pints of wine and six penny worth of Biscakes. ' ' In
extenuation of this pernicious practice, it should be re-
membered that the preachers of that period labored with
great earnestness and energy, and the meetings often
held four or five hours. Yet it might have been
worthy of consideration whether the biscakes with a
cup of coffee could not have been profitably substituted
for the wine. ' '

1728. — " A good substantial meal for all Friends
present was furnished whenever Quarterly Meeting
was held at Wand worth. 1728, 1st of Fifth month,
' ' seventy men and twenty-one women dined at the
Rose and Crown. ' '

Bill of Faee :

25 lbs. loin of beef,

29J lbs. veal at Ud,

6 J 14 oz. bacon 9d,

Beans, 1 pk., .

Pnddings,

Bread,

Cheese,

Dressing and butter.

Breakfast,

Beer, 8 gallons,

Wine and tobacco,

Servants,

7s

Od

Is

Od

5s

2d

Os lOd

9s

3d

2s

6d

Os

Sd

LOs

Od

2s

od

Sn

Od

OS

Ad

Is

lOd

Collected,

£3 4s Od
2 3s 3d

Paid by Monthly Meeting, 1 Os 9d
Sent in gratis by John Kerweidt, six cabbages, six cauliflowers
and cucumbers with salad.

In an extended memoir of that most excellent man,
Dr. Fothergill, we read : "At his meals he was re-
markably temperate — in the opinion of some, rather

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 163

too abstemious — eating sparingly, but with good relish,
and rarely exceeding two glasses of wine at dinner or
supper. Yet by his uniform temperance he preserved
his mind vigorous and active and his constitution equal
to all his engagements." — Londo?i Magazine, 250.

II. Round.

Sale of rum to Indians Advisory Friends who em-
igrated to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, actuated alike
by sentiments of justice and humanity to the Indians,
and a regard to their own personal comfort and safety,
soon found it necessary to rise one step higher.

1679. — "This meeting doth unanimously agree and
give as their judgment, that it is not consistent with the
honor of truth for any that make profession thereof to
sell rum or other strong drink to the Indians, because
they use them not to moderation, but to excess and
diunkenness. ' ' — Yearly Meeting.

1687. — " The practice of selling rum or other strong
drink to the Indians, either directly or indirectly, or ex-
changing rum or other strong liquors for any goods or
merchandise with them, considering the abuse they
make of it, is a thing contrary to the mind of the L,ord,
and a great reflection and dishonor to the Truth, so far
as any professing it are concerned, and for the more
effectual preventing this evil practice as aforesaid, we
advise that this, oui* testimony, be entered in every
Monthly Meeting book, and every Friend belonging to
said Meeting to subscribe the same." — Yearly Meeting.

This is probably the first temperance pledge on record.
The Monthly Meeting of Middletown has the pledge on
its minutes signed by forty-nine members. Other meet-
ings are supposed to have done the same.

164 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTKS.

The Falls Monthly Meeting added to its minutes,
( ' Thomas Yardley and William Janney to speak to W.
B. and caution him thereof." His answer is that it is
not against the law, neither does he know that it is any
evil. However, if Friends desire it, he will forbear.
Later, " That Lionel Britain do speak to W. B. again,
and acquaint him that it is the desire of Friends that he
would be very careful." Yet sixteen years later the
same Monthry Meeting desires the same W. B. to
supply what W. P. stands in need of — it being some
molasses and mm. This W. B. was a poor man,
perhaps sick also, whom the Meeting had to support ;
but W. B. was a noted minister of Falls Meeting, which
was long held in his house. He was a merchant, and
sometimes chosen to the Assembly and to the Provin-
cial Council. Strange, that he could not see that the
sale of rum to the Indians was an evil.

III. Round. — Sipping and Tippling of Drams.
1706. — "Advised that none accustom themselves to
vain and idle company, sipping and tippling of drams
and strong drinks in inns or elsewhere ; for though such
as use that evil practice may not suddenly be so far
prevailed upon as to be drunk in the greatest degree,
yet they often inflame themselves thereby so as to
become like ground fitted for the greatest transgres-
sions. ' ' — Yearly Meeting.

IV. Rowid. — Admonitory.

Advice very properly goes before censure. The
Yearly Meeting had for forty years advised and repeated
its advice on this important subject.

1719. — "Advised that such be dealt with as sell,
barter, or exchange, either directly or indirectly to the

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 165

Indians, rum, brandy or other strong drink." — Yearly
Meeting.

V. Round. — Excess in Drinking. Admo?iitory.
1 ' Inasmuch as people being hurt or disguised by
strong drink seems to be a prevailing evil, therefore
when any in membership with us are overtaken there-
with, they should be admonished and dealt with as
disorderly persons." — Yearly Meeting.

VI. Round. — Moderate Drinking. Adv.

1 72 1. — "It becomes the concern of this Meeting to
advise and caution all of our profession, carefully to
watch against this evil when it begins to prevail upon
them in a general manner, or more particularly at
occasional times of taking it ; the frequent use whereof,
especially drams, being a dangerous inlet ; the repeti-
tion and increase of them insensibly stealing upon the
unwary, by wantonness in the young and the false and
deceitful, and warmth it seems to supply to the old, so
that by long habit, when the true warmth of nature
becomes weakened thereby, the stomach seems to crave
these strong spirits even to supply that which they have
destroyed. ' ' — Yearly Meeting.

It is interesting to observe how completely this
minute anticipates some of the boasted discoveries of
modern times. It recognizes all the essential principles
of the temperance reformation, but the people were not
then able to carry them out.

VII. Round. — Givi?ig Liqiwrs at Vendues.

1726. — "It having been observed that a pernicious

custom has prevailed of giving rum and other strong

liquors to excite such as bid at vendues and provoke

them at every bidding to advance the price, which

1 66 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

beside the injustice of the artifice, is very scandalous
and leads to great intemperance and disorder, therefore
it is the unanimous sense of this Meeting to caution
Friends against the same ; and if any under our profes-
sion do fall into this evil practice, or do by any means
encourage the same, they shall be speedily dealt with
as disorderly persons." — Yearly Meeting.

It may be observed that the preamble to the law of
this State prohibiting the practice, is virtually and
almost verbally a copy of the foregoing advice which
was uttered twenty-five years before its enactment.

VIII. Round.— Family Use and Among Children.

1735-6. — "This meeting repeats the caution of last
year against the frequent use of drams or other strong
drink in families and elsewhere, and particularly to be
cautious of giving them to children and thereby
accustom them to the habit of drinking strong liquors. ' '
— Yearly Meeting.

Very proper, and yet it is hardly less dangerous to pass
the children by. Children are often close observers and
correct reasoners. If the article is good for the parents
or is used as a token of hospitality to a friend, they will
conclude that it would be good for them also. Denial
only whets the appetite and increases the craving. It
is also felt as a deception and falsehood. If parents will
consider this, they will soon find that there is but one
safe and consistent course for them to pursue — one means
of safety for their children— complete and total absti-
nence from all that intoxicates.

1737. — " We fervently pray that all Friends may be
careful not to give way to the gratifying and inordinate
appetite for any kind of drams or other spirituous
liquors. ' ' — Yearly Meeting.

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. 167

IX. Round. — Moderate Drinking.
1738. — "It is recommended to the several Monthly
and Quarterly Meetings to caution Friends that they be
exceedingly careful against the too frequent use of
spirituous liquors * * * and to direct the overseers
to deal with such as may drink to excess." — Yearly
Meeting.

X. Round. — Recommendation for License.
1738. — "The great number of public houses being
considered, it is recommended that Friends use their
endeavor to lessen the number of persons for that
service ; and that Friends be careful not to sign peti-
tions of , any but such as are proper persons, or where
there is a real necessity." — Yearly Meeting.

XI. Romid. — Query.

1743. — "This Meeting directs that the following
Query be read in the -several Monthly Meetings and
Preparatives, at least once in each quarter of a year :

' ' Do Friends keep clear of excess either in drinking
drams or other strong drink? " — Yearly Meeting.

1749. — " The overseers are desired to be timely and
vigilant in dealing with such as offend against this
branch of our discipline." — Yearly Meeting.

XII. — Giving Liquors at Vendues.
1750. — " Our discipline which relates to the practice
of giving drams at vendues, being now considered, it is
the sense of this Meeting that such persons who trans-
gress the same should be dealt with as disorderly
persons, and if they persist in justifying their conduct,
and refuse to give satisfaction for the same, they ought
to be testified against. ": — Yearly Meeting.

1 68 AUTOGRAPHIC AIv NOTES.

XIII. Round. — Query.
1755. — "Are Friends careful to avoid the excessive
tise of spirituous liquors, the unnecessary frequenting
taverns and places of diversion, and to keep to true
moderation and temperance on account of births, mar-
riages, burials and other occasions ? ' '

XIV. Round. — In Harvest and Other Times.
1766. — ' ' Overseers and other Friends are desired to
excite their brethren to vigilance to avoid the immoder-
ate use of spirituous liquors in harvest time ; and a concern
is revived in this Meeting, to advise against and excite
Friends to discourage it on all occasio?ts both by example
and precept." — Yearly Meeting.

XV. Round. — Distillation from Grain.
1777. — ' ' In regard to the practice of destroying grain
by distilling spirits out of it, it is the sense and judg-
ment of this Meeting that this practice should be
wholly discouraged and disused among Friends ; and
that Friends ought not to sell their grain for that pur-
pose or to use or partake of liqnor made out of grain."
— Yearly Meeting.

XVI Round. — Public Houses.
1777. — "Considering the snares both to our young
people and others which are attendant on the business
of keeping houses of public entertainment, beer-houses
and dram shops, whereby the reputation of the Truth
has greatly suffered, and in some places the children
and families of persons concerned therein have been
brought into disgrace and loss, both spiritually and
temporally, it is the united sense and judgment of this
Meeting that Friends ought not to give way to the de-

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 169

sire for outward gain arising from such employments,
but to keep themselves clear thereof by attending to the
pointings of pure wisdom." — Yearly Meeting.

XVII. Round. — Query.
1777. — "Are Friends careful to discourage the un-
necessary distillation of spirituous liquors, or their use ?
frequenting taverns and places of diversion, etc."

XVIII. Round. — Manufacture and Traffic.

1788. — " For the preservation of our fellow members
from the temptation of the gain of unrighteousness, we
think it expedient that Quarterly and Monthly Meetings
be excited and enjoined early to appoint committees
unitedly to visit and treat with our members individu-
ally, who are concerned in importing spirituous liquors
from the West Indies or others places, either on their
own account or for others, in greater or less quantities,
as also those members who are concerned in the distilla-
tion of these liquors from grain or other produce, either
in their own families or encouraging and promoting it
in others." — Yearly Meeti7ig.

(The latter clause seems to relate to a practice then
quite common, for farmers to own small stills, and to
distill their own liquors and sometimes for a few neigh-
bors.)

XIX. Round. — Medicinal use of Liquors.
1788. — " We apprehend it is expedient to recommend
and advise those who make use of spirituous liquors in
their families in a medicinal way, that they be careful
to keep within the bounds of true moderation in the
use of them for such purpose." — Yearly Meeting.

J70 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

XX. Rou7id.
1794. — "If any should reject the labor and advice
of Friends by continuing in the practice, etc., etc.,
that such should not be employed in any service in
the church, nor their contributions be received for the
use of such. — Yearly Meeting.

XXL Round.
1794. — "If any should distill spirits out of grain or
retail such liquors, Monthly Meetings should deal with
them as with other offenders, and if they cannot be pre-
vailed upon to desist from such a practice, be at liberty
to declare their disunity with them." — Yearly Meeting.

XXII. Round.

1832. — "Monthly Meetings ought to take an early
opportunity tenderly to treat with such of our members
as are concerned in the importation, distillation or sale of
spirituous liquors, and if after faithful, patient labor to
convince them of the awful, demoralizing effects of
their conduct, and its inconsistency with the testimony
of our Religious Society, they cannot be prevailed upon
to relinquish the business, the said meeting be at
liberty to put the discipline in practice against them."
— Yearly Meeting.

XXIII. Round.

1832. — * ' A tender religious care ought to be extended
to those of our members who are given to the use of
spirituous liquors, or who hand it out in harvest time,
in order to dissuade them from the practice."

XXIV. Round. — Query.
1839. — " Are Friends clear of the distillation orsaleof
spirituous liquors ? Are they careful to discourage the

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 171

use thereof as a drink, and from the attending places of
diversion and the unnecessary frequenting of taverns ;
and do they keep to true moderation and temperance on
account of marriages, burials and other occasions."

XXV. Round. — Advisory Against Renting, Etc. — 1841.

XX VI. Round, — Query as Proposed by Fishing Creek
Half - Yearly Meeting.

1 87 1. — " Are Friends clear of the use as a beverage
and of the manufacture and sale for that purpose of all
spirituous or malt liquors, wines, or anything that can
intoxicate ? And is due caution observed in the use
thereof as a medicine ? ' '

Way did not open for its adoption in the unity, and
the subject was referred to the further consideration of
Friends at the next Yearly Meeting.

1872. — Report of Joint Committee. Prevailing sense
of Committee tha.t the proposition from Fishing Creek
be adopted — some Friends dissenting. On considera-
tion, way did not open to adopt.

This was to many a humiliating scene. Friends
who had long occupied conspicuous places in our
society, and were looked upon as fathers and mothers,
elders in the church, standing up in determined opposi-
tion to the further progress of the temperance reforma-
tion, which their sons and daughters were earnestly
laboring to promote. E. Michener.

[From the large accumulation of material in Dr.
Michener's manuscript, bearing upon this subject so
near his heart, much that is of interest to the friends of
temperance, and especially so to his co-workers in the
cause, must of necessity be omitted, and we give his

172 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

concluding remarks in connection with the above
article, as also a fitting close to his long and earnest
conflict with the evil. His Christian charity may well
excuse his sometimes warmly tempered zeal. — Ed.]

Conclusion.

The unfolding of Divine Truth in the minds, is
a gradual work, dependent upon the degree of obedience
rendered to its manifestations, for it will ever remain to
be a truth, that " he that is faithful in the little shall be
made ruler over more." The progress of associated
bodies is retarded by causes which do not operate upon
individuals. Religious society is necessarily composed
of heterogeneous materials. There are many gifts but
one spirit. Many states of religious experience ; many
degrees of obedience to manifested requirements. The
feeble will lag behind and require a helping hand ; the
doubting will wait for clearer manifestations ; the
perverse will not move forward in united action, and
some may utterly refuse to walk by the light that has
been furnished them. Yet herein is the beauty and ex-
cellence of religious association, that the strong and
the confident are willing to wait for and encourage the
weak and timid, casting off only those who wholl}7 re-
fuse their proffered assistance. This has been beauti-
fully exemplified in the case before us. For two
centuries, by long, patient unremitting labor, the
society has steadily advanced in the temperance move-
ment so far.

Much remains to be accomplished before we can
stand secure on that proud platform. Total abstinence
from all that intoxicates, to which the Temperance
Ladder will finally lead us. E. Michkner.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 173

MISCELLANEOUS.

A POINT OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.

To some of us who have grown gray in the mainten-
ance of the discipline, established in 1719, relative to
the appointment of overseers to attend marriages, the
proposition ' ' To amend this rule so that the parties con-
cerned might make their own selection among their
friends, etc.," seems strange.

We can readily suppose that the presence of solid,
religiously concerned overseers has frequently exercised
an irksome restraint — none the less needed on that
account — over giddy and thoughtless youth who often
attend marriages. I have long believed that it is more
from a desire to escape this restraint, than from a desire
to lessen the number in attendance, that wedding
parties wish to select their own overseers.

I always rejoice to find a religious concern to have
the attendance small, but this object is easily attained
without recourse to this disorderly practice. Friends
seem almost to have forgotten that the oversight and
proper conduct of marriages is a religious concern of
society in its collective capacity, the administration of
which has been delegated to the executive department
— the Monthly Meeting — not to the individual specially
concerned, but for their encouragement and assistance
in preserving and maintaining good order. The respon-
sibility of the overseers of a marriage is greatly enhanced
by the present discipline. The Monthly Meeting is
authorized, virtually to appoint a time and place for
holding a solemn religious meeting. To secure this
purpose, it is required to choose four suitable Friends to

174 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTKS.

attend, and see that the meeting is properly held, and
also to report. The responsibility is here placed upon
and cannot be removed from the Monthly Meeting. It
must therefore be a palpable dereliction of this solemn
duty for the meeting to allow some outside, irresponsi-
ble, and perhaps incompetent parties to assume its
functions. E. M.

BRIEF NOTES ON THE BURIAL SERVICE.

Most nations of people of whom we have any record,
whether ancient or modern, savage or civilized, have
considered and practically acknowledged the burial of
the dead to be a religious rite. Their ignorance and
superstitions, their idolatrous objects and modes of
worship may sometimes have disguised, but could not
altogether obscure the religious sentiment which every-
where underlies and influences the various modes of
sepulture.

I have been gratified to observe a disposition to
revive the ancient practice of Friends of assembling at
funerals in their meeting houses instead of the homes
of the deceased. Thus the family is relieved of a great
burden, and better accommodations are furnished to
those in attendance than can usually be afforded to those
in private houses. There the family can sit down in
solemn silence, and may find in it a fit opportunity for
entering into close sympathy with the mourners or into
a still closer retrospection of their own past lives, and
of their fitness to respond to the awful summons :
1 ' Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not
live." How much better this than to meet at the
house of mourning where the company become separated

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 75

in different apartments or collected in groups out of
doors. In those isolated groups the trivial affairs of
time too often occupy the attention to the exclusion of
the more important concerns of eternity.

In this way the ostensible purposes of the meeting are
frustrated. Those who so demean themselves, neither
show respect for the dead nor sympathy for the living.
It is needless to say how grating such thoughtless,
may I not say rude conduct, must be not only to the
family, but to all sober and reflecting minds. But if
abuses have crept in when assembled at the house of
the deceased, so they may gain admission when
gathered at the meeting house. I hope I shall be ex-
cused for referring briefly to some of them. When it is
appointed to meet at the meeting house, the tendency is
for too many of the relatives and friends to gather at the
house that they may accompany the corpse to the place
of meeting. In this way the family may have its
burden increased, not lessened, by the combination of
the two methods with the evils of both.

There is also, in some places, a disposition to extend
funeral notices and thus to gather large companies.
May we not sometimes discover a feeling of gratifica-
tion, may I not add, of pride in the fact of a very large
funeral attendance ? There is danger in this ; may
we guard against its insidious approaches.

The same inducement which gathers large companies,
will lead to extensive and sumptuous preparations for
the table on such occasions. The rights of hospitality
should not be neglected, but I have sometimes thought
that if a stranger were to be dropped suddenly into one
of our funeral festivals, he would be led to conclude
that some joyous event had occurred in the family for

176 AUTOGRAPHICAIv NOTES.

which ' ' the fatted calf had been killed that they might
rejoice and make merry."

Excess of Preaching. — The delicacy of this part of
my subject may have shielded it from scrutiny, and
permitted the evil to pass unrebuked. I do not — I dare
not — limit the operations of the spirit. I do not accuse
any one individually. There is no more fitting time
or occasion for true gospel service, none of which the
audience ought to be better prepared to receive its
urgent warnings, its glorious promises than at a funeral,
with the sure evidence of mortality lying before them.
But a few words "fitly spoken," are like "apples of
gold in pictures of silver." A word to the wise is
sufficient.

MEETINGS AND THE MINISTRY.

Permit me now to call the attention of Friends
generally, but more especially of ministers, to a special
branch of the gospel ministration ; the duty of minis-
ters when travelling in the service of Truth, to visit the
brethren in their little primary meetings. But let us
remember that if it is the duty of ministers to attend these
meetings, it must be a co-ordinate duty of the members
to uphold and maintain them.

I admire the sentiment of him who said, ' * We do not
want an eloquent ministry ; nor we do not want a flowery
ministn^ ; we want a living ministry ; we want a
baptizing ministry ; a ministry that will break a hard
heart and heal a broken one. A ministry that will
lead us to the fountain and leave us there."

Those who have watched the progress of our society
for the last half century, have become conversant with
two facts which are worthy of notice :

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 177

i st. That Friends who travelled in the ministry fifty
years ago, almost always visited the brethren where
their lot was cast in their small meetings. But more
recently such Friends often pass those little assemblies
by and depend upon seeing the people in the larger
bodies of Quarterly and Yearly Meetings.

2d. That fifty years ago the primary meetings were
quite as wrell attended as the larger gatherings. But
more recently the smaller meetings have been sadly
neglected, while the larger ones have been well
sustained. We can hardly fail to perceive that there is
a relation of cause and effect between these co-ordinate
facts. The people ask why need wre go to these meet-
ings? The ministers do not come there to visit us.
The ministers ask, why need we go to those little meet-
ings ? The people are not there. Yet both the minis-
ters and the people continue to attend the larger meet-
ings.

From this view of the subject it is difficult to avoid
the conclusion that ministers, by so withdrawing their
visits from the inferior meetings, have notably con-
tributed to the very evil which they were laboring to
remove.

But Friends everywhere should remember that they
too have a duty to perform, that of faithfully attending
and properly maintaining their own little meetings, for if
it is a duty of ministers to visit these meetings, it must be
a co-ordinate duty of the members to be there ready to
receive them. By absenting themselves they virtually
reject the message of divine love which may be sent to
them, and may they not by their own neglect turn
away "The feet of them that preach the Gospel of

178 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

Peace, and bring glad tidings of good things," until it
can no longer be said that ' ' God hath visited his
people."

In these days of high intellectual culture, there has
sprung up among us an eloquent ministry, a flowery
ministry, and, though not necessarily so, there is
danger in the eloquent and flowery. Danger that the
possessor may become proud of the attainment and vain
of displaying it. That disdaining to preach to empty
benches, to the tens or the fifties in the small meetings,
he may prefer to exhibit his talents where the hundreds
and the thousands congregate. There is even danger
that we may come to have two descriptions of ministers,
two forms of ministration — a gospel ministry and an
intellectual ministry.

There is, moreover, a great commotion, a general
upheaving throughout the Christian world. The
people are fast losing their veneration for religious
dogmas and conventional forms which have so long
usurped the place of true vital religion and spiritual
worship.

The foundation stones of the great modern Babel,
which priestcraft has erected, are mouldering into
dust, and the superstructure, like its prototype on the
plains of Shinar, is tottering to its fall. Why should
not we suffer our part in the general ruin ?

Note.
I do not object to intellectual culture, only to the manner of it.
Physiologically considered, man is a triune being. He is endowed
with three sets of faculties : the intellectual, moral and religious,
each in its measure capable of separate and independent action, but
requiring a co-operation of all the three to constitute a vigorous

KZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 79

and well-balanced mind. The cultivation and exercise of either
set of faculties, without the others, necessarily produce mental
deformity and impair the healthy functions of the mind. Thus
we may educate the same individual to be either an unbelieving
rationalist, a doubting moralist, or a fanatical religionist. E. M.

RISING IN TIME OF PRAYER.

It may be difficult to trace the time-honored custom
of rising in time of prayer, to its origin, or to determine
by what authority or for what purpose it was instituted.
But from fragments of church history which remain to
us, it appears that the practice existed in the Christian
churches about the close of the second century, in connec-
tion with what I have elsewhere designated conven-
tional prayer. I do not find any earlier mention of it as
a Christian usage, but it had at that early period
assumed so exaggerated a form as to suggest to my
mind that its source would probably be found far
down in the calendar of heathen and idolatrous wor-
ship, as a means of the priest's ascendency over the
people.

About the time referred to, (the close of the second
century) history informs us that ■ * The preacher fre-
quently concluded his sermon with an exhortation to
his audience to stand up and pray to God, standing being
the usual posture of praying, at least on Sundays, on
which days they esteem it a sin to kneel. When the
congregation stood up, they all turned their faces
toward the east, which was their usual custom, and put
themselves in a praying posture by stretching out their
hands and lifting up their eyes toward heaven." The
people did not join with the minister in prayer,

l8o AUTOGRAPHIC AIv NOTES.

but satisfied themselves with testifying their assent to
what he had expressed by saying ' ' Amen " or ' ' So
be it."

I believe it has not been shown that the practice of
rising in time of prayer was introduced into the Chris-
tian church until after the priests, in imitation of their
idolatrous prototypes, had spread the gloomy pall of
their craft over the people.

Where this state of things already exists, or where
there is an established liturgy , a conventional form of
prayer to be used on special occasions as they occur,
where the congregation may be presumed to be familiar
with the several forms and to know which one has
been appropriated for the occasion, it may be a fitting
accompaniment of the other conventional forms and
rituals which are practiced for, and no doubt honestly
believed to be divine worship.

At the time of the rise of the religious society of
Friends, it may have been the general, if not the
universal custom, to rise in time of prayer, a practice
which they, as a religious society, did not then feel re-
quired to renounce. It might have been inexpedient
for them to have done so. The expediency, if it ever
existed, of holding to this old custom, has long since
ceased to exist, and I am unable to comprehend why
our religious society, after having renounced so many
vain and empty forms, should cling so tenaciously to
this observance. If we really believe that " God is a
spirit and that they who worship him must worship
him in spirit,'' we ma}^ well inquire whether would
this spiritual worship be better performed in the still-
ness and quiet of the body, than amidst the bustle and

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. l8l

noise consequent on rising ? I have always felt it to be
a disturbing element to rise on so solemn an occasion.
May it not be time for us seriously to consider whether
we rise from a solemn sense of religious duty or from
mere traditional usage. While all were satisfied with
and voluntarily observed the practice, no one felt
burdened by it, but this has long since ceased to be the
case. There are many who feel a conscientious objec-
tion to it. While we should all unite in the great
fundamental principle of the society — the light of
Christ in the souls of men — there is room for greater
charity one toward another in non-essentials, mere
matters of opinion. As regards these, I would adopt
the sentiment of the good Tertullian, more than seven-
teen centuries ago : "It ought to be left to the free
choice of men to embrace that religion which seems to
them most agreeable to truth. No one is injured by
another man's religion. It is not an act of religion to
force religion, which oughtto be adopted spontaneously,
not by compulsion."

Public prayer from a properly qualified and author-
ized instrument, whether it be to plead for mercy, to
crave a blessing or to ascribe thanksgiving and praise
unto God, is one of the most solemn and impressive
acts of divine worship of which the mind of man is
capable. But public pra}^er may be and too often is
desecrated. There are "money changers and those
who sell doves ' ' in the temple. The solemn act of
offering prayer to the Most High has been made a
merchantable commodity. It may be feared that
money is not the only recompense which men seek for
this service. They may, like some formerly, " L,ove to

1 82 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of
the streets that they may be seen of men. ' ' And amidst
the general declension, it must not be presumed that we,
as a religious body, have alone escaped contamination.
We too may have unauthorized supplications which
proceed from the lips only, and do not commend them-
selves to the better feelings of the pure in spirit ; but
the custom of rising is too arbitrary to permit the
hearers to discriminate. Rising is claimed as a mark
of approbation and respect by the speaker, and non-
compliance is consequently construed into disrespect
and a violation of good order.

A supplicant may approach the divine presence with
polluted lips ; he may be in the true sense of the word
a hireling ; his petition is unknown and cannot be
anticipated, and when offered may prove to be repug-
nant to the better feelings of the hearers. In such an
emergency how shall they demean themselves ? The
answer may be evasive ; the inference being that the
rule applies only to those ministers who have been ap-
proved by the society ; but the predicates of this
answer are inadmissible. The approval may have
been injudiciously given, or it may have been insuffi-
cient to restrain the speaker withit? proper limits. It
often does great injustice also to young ministers whose
offerings are unexceptionable, but who have not yet
obtained the formal recognition of the societ}r as
ministers. Again admitting that the supplicant is
properly fitted and commissioned for the service, what
then? The ready reply is "rise." Now whatever
may be the state of individuals, it cannot be supposed
that a mixed audience as a whole will just at that

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. 1 83

time feel imbued with the spirit of prayer, or susceptible
of being brought suddenly into that condition. Must
the}7 sit still and incur censure for their honest consis-
tency, or rise in obedience to the stern mandate of
dubious custom, hypocritically pretending to be in a
spiritual condition to which they have not attained ? I
would not seek controversy ; only inquiry. I would
not promote ranterism ; only freedom of conscience. I
would not reject an established usage until satisfied of
its unfitness ; and until Friends shall be so satisfied, I
shall endeavor, so far as I conscientiously can, to
acquiesce. E. M.

New Garden, 10th of Tenth Mo. '77.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Can Christians lawfully inflict capital punishment ?
Professed Christians have for a long time returned an
affirmative answer by their statute books, and by the
struggling victims as they hang suspended from the
gallows.

But whence do the}' derive their authority to take
away the life of a fellow being ? The answer comes,
" From the law of Moses." This may have been a
justifiable warrant for a Jewish Sanhedrim, but does it
apply to a Christian court of justice? Whether is the
law of Moses or the law of Christ most obligatory on
Christians ? In order that we may properly answer the
inquiry, let us compare the leading characteristics of
the two laws, trace out the authorities on which they
stand and determine which is most in accordance with
the attributes of Him who is love.

1 84

AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

Law of Moses.

Thine eye shall not pity.
Thou shalt give life for life ;
eye for eye ; tooth for tooth ;
hand for hand ; foot for foot ;
burning for burning ; breach
for breach ; as he hath caused
a blemish in a man, so shall it
be done unto him again.

He that killeth a man, shall
surely be put to death.

He that blasphemeth the
name of the Lord, shall surely
be put to death.

He that smiteth or curseth
his father or mother, shall
surely die.

Thou shalt
witch to live.

not suffer a

The adulterer and adulteress
shall surely be put to death.

Law of Chkist.

It hath been said, an eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth, but I say unto you that
ye resist not evil, but who
soever shall smite thee on the
one cheek, turn to him the
other also.

It hath been said, thou shalt
love thy neighbor and hate
thine euemies ; but I say unto
you, love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and
pray for them that despitefully
use you and persecute you,
that ye may be the children
of your father which is in
heaven .

Neither do I condemn thee
(to be stoned to death) — go
and sin no more.

God in manifold wisdom and goodness, has given
successive dispensations to his dependent creature-man,
each progressive in its character, approaching nearer to
and partaking more of the spirituality which charac-
terizes the dispensation of Christ. Nor is this a mere
assertion ; the prophets saw it in prophetic vision ; the
apostles verified it in their own experience.

After the prophesies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah — Chap.
XX, 25, and XXXI, 31-3 — Paul writing to the same
people, says: "Christ is the mediator of a better
covenant which was established on better promises, for
if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no
place have been found for the second/'

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 1 85

11 In that he sayeth a new cove?ia?it he hath made the
first old. Now that which decay eth and waxeth old, is
ready to vanish away."

In perfect harmony with the promise of a new
covenant is the prophecy of Isaiah : ' ' Unto us a child
is born ; unto us a son is given ; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder ; and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Ever-
lasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Here wre have
arrived at the foundation and authority of the law of
the Christian church ; the dispensation of Christ which
breathes peace on earth and good will to all men. To be
a Christian, if it means anything, must signify to be
Christ-like ; willing to foilow his example and practice
his precepts. It was his glorious mission to establish
his kingdom of peace and good will on the earth. But
it is obvious that this mission has not been accomplished ;
and why so long delayed ?

Millions of professing Christians have passed across
the stage, loudly proclaiming their mission, making
profession without evincing the possession of that
Christ-like spirit which was necessary to enable them to
complete the work which had been assigned them to do.
Having fallen short of the ' ' mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus," they have not
fully attained to his new covenant of love as Christians,
and hence continue in the cruel and bloody practice of
inflicting the death penalty.

A REMINISCENCE.

In my twenty-first year I went to Philadelphia to
commence the study of medicine. I had never spent
more than two hours in the city ; a stranger alike to

1 86 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

its manners and customs, its follies and vices. I
carried with, me a certificate of membership to Philadel-
phia Monthly Meeting, on the presentation of which the
late Dr. Samuel S. Griffiths was one of the Friends ap-
pointed to visit me. Subsequent professional arrange-
ments brought me into almost daily intercourse with
Dr. Griffiths, and the dear old man became one of my
kindest friends.

During this severe transition period, as indeed
through my whole life, I made no change in the cut of
my clothing nor in the use of the plain language. And
here let me say for the help of those who are 3-ounger,
that while I did not find it a hindrance to proper and
profitable associations, social, scientific or religious, I
did find it an effective barrier against seductive and
vicious company, as the following incident will show :

In the autumn of 18 15, I entered the University of
Pennsylvania, consisting of about four hundred students,
largely from the South. Although there were a num-
ber of members of our Society in the class, I was the
only one whose dress and manners made the fact
manifest. With many I was a spotted sheep on that
account, but as I was earnest and industrious in my
studies, others of studious habits soon sought my com-
panionship. One day, early in the session, while the
class was waiting the detention of the lecturer, a young-
man, an entire stranger, came and sat down by my
side. ' ' Sir," he said, ' ' I presume you are a Quaker ? ' ■
I replied that I was so called. ' ' Well, sir, I never saw a
Quaker until I came to this city two weeks ago ; but
the}7 have been represented to me as the lowest class,
the very dregs of society, and you cannot imagine. my
surprise to find the number and the respectability of
them in this place. I find that I have been grossly mis-

EZRA MICHKNER, M. D. • 1 87

informed respecting your people, and I wish to know
more about them. My companions share the prejudice
with which I came, and I shall be hooted at for speak-
ing to you to-day." Here his remarks were interrupted
by the lecturer who began to speak.

The next day the visit was repeated. "Well, sir,"
he began, " it was as I expected; my fellow students
sought to ridicule me for speaking with you, but I have
changed my boarding house, where I can choose my own
company." As a result he called the next day and we
went to Arch street meeting, where he was well pleased,
and this became our practice during the winter.

Our intimacy increased, having special reference to
our studies. It was understood that we would both re-
main in the city during the summer, which would
afford more leisure for other matters. I had only, as
yet, located his home as being far up the Red River in
Louisiana. One day our door bell was rung at an early
hour, and I found my friend waiting, carpet-bag in
hand, ready for a journey. He seemed much excited,
as he said, "Circumstances require my immediate return
home. I called to bid you a hasty farewell until we meet
in the summer." This was the finale. He never re-
turned, nor was I able to trace his history, though circum-
stances created a fear that his life was a sacrifice to that
mistaken code which the world calls ' ' honor, ' ' in vin-
dication of his own character or that of a friend.

Sylvania, 15th of Sixth Mo., '86.

A PLEA FOR ARBITRATION.

It has been truly said that the world still moves, but

not backwards ; and the glorious result of the forward

movement is a terrible shaking among the dry bones of

an antiquated and obsolete theology, and may be

1 88 AUTOGRAPHIC AIv NOTES.

hailed as the propitious harbinger of an approaching
resurrection of the churches to a more spiritual life in
Christ. The Rev. W. I. Packer writes : " The age is
breaking up creeds ; and as this will go on, wTe shall
not be known in twenty-five years as we are now. ' '

The harmonious result of the arbitration of an excit-
ing question by two strong military nations has fully
proved that national differences can be more cheaply
and satisfactorily 'settled on a pacific basis than by
resort to physical force. This affords encouragement
for the hope that other nations may be induced to
follow the example so nobly set them by the United
States and Great Britain.

There are, perhaps, only two general means whereby
the practice of war can be abolished :

i st. By the masses of the people becoming so Chris-
tianized as to discover that Christians cannot fight.

2d. By the masses — rulers and subjects — learning
from sad experience that wars are not only always
wrong, but always impolitic, always a losing game even
to the winner.

In the use of the first means the last fifteen centuries
have made, it would seem very little progress. Its
time has not yet fully come. Of the second, we can
only be hopeful. So long as a high and honorable re-
ward is bestowed on the victors in the most bloody
achievements, the millennial terminus of war would
seem to be yet a great way off. But let us not despair.
Auspicious signs loom up from the murky horizon and
shed their cheering rays over the gloomy forebodings of
the future.

The same progressive civilization which has despoiled
so many crowned heads of arbitrary and unlimited power
in relation to war, will continue more and more to wrest

KZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 189

the war-making power from the hands of the governors
and to place it in the hands of the governed, where it
properly belongs, if it belongs anywhere. Kings no
longer make conquests and plunder pretexts for going
to war and men who would cheerfully defend their
homes and country are no longer willing to fight merely
to gratify the ambition or the avarice of their rulers.

The time is not far distant when the people, those
who have to do the fighting, will claim the right to
judge when it is necessary and right that they should
fight. It is here that our strongest hopes must center.
We must look for a fuller acknowledgment, a greater
respect for the right and reciprocal duties of men, both
individually and in the great family of nations.

We must learn to substitute reason and justice for the
wild impulse of passion and a resort to physical force.
We must look to that exalted sense of moral rectitude
which requires that l ' All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you, do you even so unto
them."

It is recorded of Robert Barclay, that on one occasion
a highwayman pointed a pistol at his breast and de-
manded his purse. With his usual calm self possession,
he looked at the robber full in the face, and with a firm,
though meek benignity, assured him that he was his
and every man's friend ; that he was willing and ready
to relieve his wants ; that he was free from the fear of
death, through a divine hope of immortality, and there-
fore was not to be intimidated by a deadly weapon.

The same soothing influence can be brought to bear
upon the wild excitement of the insane, and points as
directly and hopefully to that suggestive scripture,
" Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the
world."

190 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

REFLECTIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF A PAID
MINISTRY.

The question is, Can the teaching of men qualify a
person to preach the gospel of Christ, or does it require
the direct aid and direction of the Holy Spirit to do so?

Facts are stubborn things, and the success or failure
of our experience often affords us lessons of instruction.
Now it is a fact that Jesus of Nazareth was the greatest
and most excellent minister ; the ablest and best
qualified, as well as the only infallibly correct the-
ologian ; also the most industrious and persevering in
his efforts to instruct his followers in all the great and
sublime doctrines of moral and religious truth ; yet it
is also a fact that with all his teaching and the power-
ful influence of his perfect example, he does not appear
to have made one of his pupils a gospel minister. And
why ? Because Jesus himself was only an instrument
of the Christ Spirit, and could not impart to others the
efficacy of the anointing power of the Christ which he
had received.

The phrase, "Hireling Minister," is often used
without due discrimination, and I think, in its strict
and liberal signification, does not very clearly express
the idea which it is used to convey.

Jesus himself declared, " The laborer is worthy of his
hire." — Luke, 10-7. The minister needs physical
sustenance, and his ministry, if properly authorized,
should not be marred by the want of it. Rather let the
helping hand of the brethren in unity afford the neces-
sary means to carry out the good work. Literally, this
might be called a paid or hireling ministry. But the
difficulty does not lie just here. The ministerial office

EZRA MICHKNER, Mi D. 191

has grown up very far beyond this. It has become one
of high popular respectability. It brings to its possessor
an unwonted influence over his fellow men, and, if
successful, brings to him a handsome remuneration.
Hence it is no cause of wonder that parents often devote
to and educate their sons for the ministry, nor need we
marvel that thousands of young men should become
ambitious of clerical honors without perhaps an}T
especial religious feeling or consciousness of responsi-
bility. Their education completed, they throw them-
selves upon the market and await the highest bid. It
is this man-made ministry, this making merchandise of
the gospel, which George Fox denounced and which
is still denounced by those who have embraced what
they deem the spirituality of the Christian dispensation.
Those who have not reached this experience are still
dwelling under the old covenant dispensation of
ritualistic forms and sacrifices as written on the perish-
able tables of stone and not as " The Epistles of Christ,
written with the spirit of the living God on the fleshly
tablets of the heart. ' *

Do not understand me that all who are called hireling
ministers must and do continue to dwell in this outer
court — far from it. Many of them, no doubt, have
known and do know in their own living experience,
that " the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath
appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying
ungodliness and the world's lusts we should live soberly,
righteously and godly in this present world, showing
all good fidelity that we may adorn the doctrine of God
our Saviour in all things."

To these cursory observations or the correctness of
them, let the following abbreviated records testify :

192 AUTOGRAPHIC AL NOTES.

( ' I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel, saith the Lord ; I will put my law in their
inward parts and write it on their hearts, and I will
be their God and they shall be my people. They shall
no more teach every man his neighbor saying, Know
the Lord, for all shall know me from the least unto
the greatest of them. "—Jer. 30-33-34.

' ' The eyes of the blind shall be opened ; the ears of
the deaf shall be unstopped ; the lame shall leap as a
heart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing. Waters
shall break out in the wilderness, and streams in the
desert, and a highway shall be there and it shall be
called the way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass
over it ; but it shall be for those : the way-faring men,
though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be
there nor any ravenous beast, but the redeemed shall
walk there." — Isa. 35 \ 5-6-8-0.

Jesus declared, "The kingdon of God cometh not
with observation, neither shall they say lo, here ! or lo,
there ! for behold the kingdon of God is within you.' ' —
Luke 77, 20-21.

And again, " It is expedient for 3-011 that I go away.
If I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you ;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you. When he,
the spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all
truth."— John 16, 7-13

' ' Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,
teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you ; and lo ! I am with you always — even
to the end of the world." — Mat. 38, 70-20.

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 193

1 ' Being assembled with them, he commanded them
that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for
the promise of the Father, which ye have heard of me ;
for John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be
baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
And ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is
come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me unto
the uttermost parts of the earth." — Acts i, £-5-8.

" The righteousness which is of faith, speaketh in this
wise : The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and
in th}7 heart ; that is the word of faith which we
preach." — Rom. 10, 8.

"As every man hath received the gift, even so min-
ister the same one to another as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God. If any man minister, let
him do it as of the ability which God giveth, that God
in all things may be glorified." — I. Peter 4, 10-11.

The following reminiscences (and many more might
be added) of kind and sympathizing friends, need not
flatter, nor were they intended to, the vanity of the
Old Man ; but the}7 do afford him comforting evidence
of the appreciation of other and younger generations,
who thus testify to their estimation of his long and
earnest labors on their behalf.

They moreover serve to soothe and sweeten the loneli-
ness and feebleness of the twilight of more than ninety
years.

194 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

A dear friend, in concluding an interesting letter,

adds :

u A few more years may yet remain,

A few more gifts thy soul attain,

To fill, complete, thy line of duties here ;

So when at last thy race is run,

And low descends thy setting sun,

Thou'lt meet the shade without a doubt or fear.

My palsied hand and failing sight,
Proclaim the near approach of night ;

The rending of the tie that hinds me here.
This scene will pass, the curtain drop,
The fluttering wheel of life will stop,

And soon on earth shall end my brief career.

But can the grave the soul confine ?

Can matter there with soul combine
To form against a senseless mass of dust ?

As well suppose new forms may spring

Without a primal grim to bring
The lifeless atoms into order just.

But still apart from physic's laws,
From which our ready reason draws

Conclusions from the soul's unending time,
There still remains the fond desire,
For something higher and still higher,

Breathed by man in every age and clime.

This thought cannot from nothing grow ;

A fount can not from nothing flow ;
A spring, tho' secret must its stream supply.

The bud bespeaks a parent shoot,

The branching stem a parent root ;
So mind to mind must ever make reply.

We thus through kindred lines may see

What God's immortal mind must be,
Since He's the source whence mind has flown.

This faith I state for those who ask,

And here I close my evening task,
Of tracing o'er what thou and I have known.'*

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D. 195

West Chester, 25th of Eleventh Mo., '85.
My Dear Aged Friend :

This is the anniversary of thy birthday. I thought of thee as I
Li woke this morning, and could fully appreciate thy loneliness,
though not alone. Thy great loss, so fully recognized by thee, has
brought thee near, so well do I understand all the varied feelings
resulting therefrom.

How we have been humbled under a sense of our loneliness, and
to whom can we go ? Truly, we are brought to depend upon Him
who alone can bind up the broken heart and comfort the aged
mourners.

*While so closely in sympathy with you, I have full assurance
that thou art under the protection of Him whose watch over us can
never cease through all the seasons of varied conflict.

S. J. S.

Dear Uncle :

I take the pen laid down by my friend, to congratulate thee on
having lived to add another year to the many that have passed.
While thou may feel at times that there has not been much
accomplished, some of us think that those ninety years have been
sown with good seed, that will yet bear fruit to the honor of that
great Husbandman who has given so liberally of His stores for thy
use. Thou hast had many deep and hard trials in thy life, and
even at the evening hour thou art not exempt. But thy heavenly
Father's love is over thee, and may it give to thy spirit a quiet
peace that will rest as a crown of brightness upon thee, and sweeten
thy last days. M. W.

Hockessix, 24th of Eleventh Mo., '85.
Dear Friend :

I learn that this is thy birthday. May I hold a little converse
with thee ?

A green old age like thine is indeed beautiful to behold, and a
source of thankfulness not only to thyself, but to all who are
blessed thereby.

196 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

I go back in memory to childhood's years and see. thee, the wise
counsellor and physician, the man of thought and intelligence in
advance of those around thee. Giving lessons to mothers and
daughters as few were capable of doing or had the disposition to
do. Thy advanced thought for woman ; the justice of thy judg-
ment in regard to the equality of sin in the sexes ; thy mercy for
women so universally despised and condemned, while a brother,
equally guilty, is admitted in good standing everywhere.

Thou wert then " in thy prime," as people say ; yet ever since
thy mind has been expanding and thy life engaged in promoting
the best welfare of human kind. Trials as well as joy have
fallen to thy share, but a well-balanced mind has enabled thee to"
bear them with a cheerful acquiescence. Do we not realize wifh
the poet :

That more and more a providence

Of love is understood,
Making the springs of time and sense

Sweet with eternal good.
That death seems like a covered way

Which opens into light,
"Wherein no blinded child can stray

Beyond the Father's sight.
That toil and trial seem at last

In memory's sunset air,
Like mountain ranges overcast

In purple distance fair.
That all the jarring notes of life

Seem blending in a psalm ;
And all the angles of its strife

Slow rounding into calm.

And so the shadows fall apart ;

And so the west winds play,

And all the windows of my soul

I open to the day.

Thy Friend,

L. H. P.

EZRA MICHENKR, M. D. 197

On this birthday occasion, so kindly remembered by
my many friends, was written :

MY NINETY-FIKST MILE-STONE.

Three score and ten, the prophet said,

Shall be the years of man ;
And if by strength, four score be run,

'Twill be with toil and pain.
I've journeyed long aud oft alone

Through dark and devious days,
But thou, O Lord, was ever near,

To point the ; ' better ways. ' '
Now almost blind and deaf and dumb,

My feeble limbs in chains,
Yet thanks to thee, O Holy One,

The mind — the mind remains !
Weary and worn, I reach this spot,

Where mortals seldom come ;
A distant land-mark by the way —

My mile-stone, ninety -one.
Labor and sorrow we must know

In due proportion sent ;
But greater far the pleasures which

Eeward a life wTell spent.
This is the lesson we should learn

While youth and health prevail ;
'Twill ease the toil and soothe the pain

When health and vigor fail.
Thy judgments, Lord, have often been

The burden of my lot ;
And, strangely, they as often were

Too easily forgot.
Yet not alone in judgments, Lord.

Have I thy mercies known ;
A rich reward for service done
Has thy approval shown.

198 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

'Tis of thy mercy that I am

In this forlorn degree ;
Then gracious Father lend thy hand

' And lead me up to thee.
That in the cycle of thy love

Thy purpose may endure,
And my poor soul at last attain

Thy rest and peace secure.

E. MlCHENER.

Following the above we may appropriately give an
extract from a friendly letter, which brings us to the close
of active literanr labor on the part of Dr. Michener, and
as we close with his own offering, " My Ninety-Second
Mile-Stone," we can but express the profound regret
that his own mind, so clear and vigorous ; his own hand
so firm and unswerving, might not have finished the
work so systematically begun, or at least that more
mature judgment and scholarly advantage could have
supplemented that which has been a service of love but
little more. Comp.

Third Mo., 10th, '80.
Dear Friend :

Many favors have we already received at

thy hand, yet I presume to ask another which I trust thee may be
willing to grant — a copy of thy poem, written on thy ninety -first
anniversary. We are very anxious to see and possess it, and shall
value it highly. We were not aware of thy having reached thy
four score years and ten. A good old age certainly and one to be
proud of after a well spent life, as I doubt not thine has been.
May the remaining years, whether few or many, be peaceful, serene
and happy.

A boon from heaven hast thou to be thankful for, in the blessing
retained — a mind capable of enjoying life up to such an age, while
so many even much younger, by the failure of all that makes life

EZRA MICHENER, M. D. 199

desirable — the mental faculties — live on without comfort to them-
selves or to those about them. How mysterious and utterly
beyond our comprehension are these things.

Truly thy Friend,

N. Newbold.

MY MILE-STONE NINETY-TWO.

Ihe car of life ! a wondrous train
Unceasing rolls adown the plain,

Nor ever to return.
The young the old, the meek, the proud,
Alike are jumbled in the crowd,

One common fate to learn.

The car is free alike to all ;

Yea all must join the giddy thrall

Without a stop or stay.
The crowd increases as they go,
Causing a constant overflow

Anon, from day to day.

The weak, the sick, even the strong,
Are jostled off to ease the throng

Of its accumulation.
It is not chance, it is not fate ;
'Tis Providence who gives the date

To shorten or to lengthen.

And so my life has hither run,
From day to day, from sun to sun,

A round of weary strife.
Still hoping in the end to gain
A recompense for all my pain,

An endless, happy life.

Another year hath run its course ;
Another year hath spent its force

On this time-honored crone.
Since sad and weary, I sat down
Upon yon cold, unfeeling stone, —

My Mile-stone, Ninety-one.

200 AUTO GRAPHICAL NOTES.

Nor might I rest niy limbs so frail,
The car ran swiftly down the vale,

Unceasing in its flight.
Sometimes the sun shone, bright and clear,
Sometimes the clouds were dark and drear,

Obscuring Heaven's pure light.

This glorious morn, a cheering ray,
Shone bright and clear at break of day,

And kindly brought to view
Along the dew-bespangled vale,
The subject of my artless tale,

My Mile-stone, Ninety-two.

Here may I rest awhile to view
The past, the present ; and renew

My covenant of peace ;
And thus prepare to join the throng
Of aDgel spirits pure and strong

Around the throne of grace.

I

EZRA MICHKNKR, M. D.

20I

HIS DECEASE.

A Brief Retrospect.

Ezra Michener, M. D., died at his late residence,
near Toughkenamon, Chester Co., Penns}7lvania, on
the morning of the 24th of 6th month, 1887, at the
advanced age of ninety-two years and seven months.

He was a life-long, interested and active member of
the Religious Society of Friends. He contributed
largely to the religious, moral, scientific and miscella-
neous literature of his da}7, as the following memoran-
dum, which he had preserved, of his published pro-
ductions, testify : —

1st Class, Books, etc.,

2d

3d
4th

5th
6th

Medical Reports, etc.,

Agricultural Essays, etc.,

For Friends' Intelligencer and

Journal, etc.,
Daily Eocal News, etc.,
Miscellaneous,

Total,

15
23
49

50

90

270

497

He was in frequent correspondence with many of the
most eminent scientists of his time, and the noted
Agassiz said of him, ' ' that he did not belong exclu-
sively to Chester County, Pennsylvania or America,
but to the whole scientific world. ' '

202 AUTOGRAPHICAI, NOTES.

His large collection of natural history, including
over five hundred species of birds, animals and rep-
tiles, the greater portion of which had been collected
and mounted by his own hands, was taken to Swarth-
more College in 1869, and placed in its museum. It
was lost in the fire that occurred there a few years later.
Extensive and valuable herbariums of flowering and
cryptogamous plants, and a well arranged cabinet of
salt-, fresh- water and land shells and other productions
of nature remaining in possession of his children,
attest his valuable labor.

In 1855 he built a new mansion in an open area of
two or three acres, and planted the grounds with a
large variet}^ of evergreen and deciduous trees and
shrubber}'. ' From the study of these he derived much
pleasure, and lived to see many of them attain sur-
prising proportions. Several years previous to his
decease, one of these (a Paulo wnia Imperialis), was
taken down and its trunk sawed into boards of which,
at his request, his coffin was made.

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